MLB-SCHEDULE
Busy day of play for pitchers with three wins
UNDATED (AP) — Five games in Major League Baseball are taking place this afternoon. In Oakland the Athletics and Rangers are hooking up in what looks to be a great pitching matchup as a pair of three-game winners square off. For the A’s it’ll be right-hander Sonny Gray, who is 3-0 on the season with a 1.80 earned run average and 23 strikeouts. The Rangers counter with 3-0 lefty Martin Perez, who has a 1.86 ERA with 20 whiffs.
In another afternoon game with a three-game winner toeing the rubber, the Braves are playing host to the Marlins. Getting the ball for the Braves is Aaron Harang, who is unbeaten in three decisions with a sterling 0.70 ERA with 22 K’s. The 35-year-old left-hander has carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning during two of his first four starts of the season.
Rounding out the afternoon schedule of games the Cubs are hosting the Diamondbacks, the Giants are in Denver to face the Rockies and Houston is at Seattle.
In this evening’s games Gio Gonzalez of the Nationals is going for his fourth win of the season as the Nats entertain the Angels in interleague play. Gonzalez, who is 3-1 with a 2.88 ERA and 24 strikeouts, retired the last 11 batters he faced in his last outing against the Cardinals.
Zack Greinke (GREHN’-kee) of the Dodgers is on the mound tonight gunning for win No. 4 as L.A. plays host to the Phillies, and Milwaukee’s Kyle Lohse (lohsh) takes his 3-1 record against the visiting Padres this evening.
Completing the schedule, Kansas City is at Cleveland, the Pirates are home to the Reds, Baltimore is playing at Toronto, the Tigers are entertaining the White Sox, Minnesota is at Tampa Bay, the Red Sox and Yankees square off in Boston and the Cards are in New York for a game with the Mets.
ATHLETICS-BALLPARK
A’s reject 10-year Coliseum lease offer
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland A’s have rejected a deal to play at its ballpark for the foreseeable future, saying the 10-year lease extension offer doesn’t meet all their requirements.
The Oakland Tribune reports the team’s rejection came just an hour after the joint board that runs the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum complex announced the extension proposal.
Specifics of the lease proposal were not disclosed.
The lease expires after the 2015 season.
The A’s have been searching for a new home for five years, complaining that O.co Coliseum is dilapidated and not conducive to baseball.
NBA PLAYOFFS-SCHEDULE
Three game NBA playoff schedule
UNDATED (AP) — The Heat, Spurs and Blazers are all out to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven NBA first-round playoff series tonight.
In Miami the Heat are facing the Bobcats after taking the first game 99-88 on Sunday. The Spurs are home to the Mavericks in their second game after a 90-85 win three days ago and in Houston the Blazers are facing the Rockets after winning Game 1 122-120 in overtime on Sunday.
NHL PLAYOFFS-SCHEDULE
Ducks, Pens and Blues look to win third game
UNDATED (AP) — The visiting team in each of tonight’s three NHL playoff games can take a commanding 3-1 lead with a win this evening.
In Columbus the visiting Penguins start the night leading the Blue Jackets 2-1 while Anaheim skates at Dallas, leading 2-1 and the Blackhawks are home to St. Louis with the Blues on top two games to one.
TENNIS-BARCELONA OPEN
Ferrer ousted by another Russian at Barcelona Open
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Second-seeded David Ferrer has been ousted from the Barcelona Open by a Russian opponent for the second straight year.
Ferrer lost 6-4, 6-2 to a 55th-ranked player (Teymuraz Gabashvili) on his favored clay.
The fifth-ranked Spaniard was surprisingly unable to keep up with shots he normally returns, looking fatigued at times.
Top-ranked Rafael Nadal took to the court late Wednesday to open against fellow Spaniard Albert Ramos in second-round play.
BOSTON U-GREENBERG RESIGNATION
Embattled Boston U coach Greenberg resigns
BOSTON (AP) — Boston University women’s basketball coach Kelly Greenberg has resigned after some former players alleged she was verbally and emotionally abusive.
The university announced Wednesday that Greenberg has resigned after 10 years at the helm.
The university assembled a panel to investigate the allegations of abuse that four former scholarship players say prompted them to quit the team last season.
University senior vice president Todd Klipp says while the panel found many of the allegations against Greenberg couldn’t be substantiated, “a compelling case was made … that the manner in which coach Greenberg interacted with many of her players was incompatible with the expectations and standards for university employees.”
Supporters called her a tough but fair coach. Greenberg went 186-127 at BU, including 13-20 last season.
