NHL PLAYOFFS
Kings use late flurry to tie series
UNDATED (AP)_The L.A. Kings scored six unanswered goals in rallying from a two-goal deficit to stun the Chicago Blackhawks 6-2 to even that Western Conference final at a game apiece. Five of those goals came in the final period, including three by Jeff Carter. He has seven postseason goals.
The Blackhawks suffered their first home loss in the postseason after seven straight victories at United Center. It’s the Kings’ first postseason victory in Chicago in franchise history after seven straight defeats.
The series now moves to Los Angeles for two games, starting with Game 3 Saturday night.
MLB-SCHEDULE
A balk-off win in Cleveland…Encarnacion, again
UNDATED (AP) β Al Albuquerque balked home Asdrubal Cabrera (ahs-DROO’-buhl kah-BREHR’-uh) in the bottom of the 13th inning to give Cleveland an 11-10 win over Detroit at Progressive Field. The rare ending came after the Indians Michael Brantley tied the score with an RBI single off of Phil Coke. Albuquerque was brought in with runners on second and third and allowed the winning run to score.
Detroit jumped in front in the top of the 13th on Alex Avila’s fourth home run of the season.
Elsewhere:
β Edwin Encarnacion (ehn-kar-nah-see-OHN’) had two homers for the second straight game, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat Boston 6-4 to send the Red Sox to their sixth consecutive loss. Encarnacion has seven homers in his last six games.
β Milwaukee slapped Atlanta 6-1. Mark Reynolds hit a first-inning grand slam. Kyle Lohse (lohsh) and Francisco Rodriguez combined on a five-hitter as the Brewers ended a four-game losing streak.
β The L.A. Dodgers nipped the New York Mets 4-3. Adrian Gonzalez homered for the third straight game. Yasiel Puig (yah-SEEL’- pweeg) and Hanley Ramirez hit back-to-back homers as the Dodgers beat the Mets for the 11th time in their last 12 meetings.
β The New York Yankees pushed across two runs in the top of the 13th inning to beat the Chicago Cubs 4-2 at Wrigley Field. Brendan Ryan scored on a wild pitch before John Ryan Murphy capped a two-run 13th with an RBI single.
β Shin-Soo Choo’s tie-breaking homer in the fifth inning was the difference as the Texas Rangers edged Seattle 4-3. Nick Tepesch worked 6 1/3 innings to pick up his first win since July 5.
β Cincinnati edged Washington 2-1 in a rain-delayed game in the nation’s capital. Bryan Pena’s run-scoring single in the fourth inning drove in the go-ahead run. Alfredo Simon (SY’-muhn) and two relievers combined on a six-hitter.
MLB-NEWS
Votto heads to DL…Fielder to be examined
UNDATED (AP) β The Cincinnati Reds have placed first baseman Joey Votto (VAH’-toh) on the 15-day disabled list with a left leg injury. He had already missed five games with a quadriceps strain in his left knee. Votto is hitting .257 with six home runs and 12 runs batted in.
Outfielder Jay Bruce was activated off the DL. He had arthroscopic surgery May 5 to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.
In other baseball news:
β Prince Fielder stayed home when the Texas Rangers left for Detroit and a series against his old team. Fielder, who has missed four games because of a herniated disk in his neck, is scheduled to be examined by specialist Dr. Drew Dossett on Thursday.
β Third baseman Juan Uribe (yoo-REE’-bay) has been placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Los Angeles Dodgers due to a strained right hamstring.
NBA PLAYOFFS
Spurs routing Thunder
SAN ANTONIO (AP)β The San Antonio Spurs are on their way to a 2-0 advantage over Oklahoma City in the Western Conference final. The Spurs are routing the Thunder 81-56 late in the game.
NBA-PACERS
George’s status in question
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) β Indiana’s Paul George suffered a concussion in Tuesday night’s playoff loss to Miami and his status for the rest of the series is up in the air. The Pacers star guard suffered the injury when he collided with Dwyane Wade in the fourth quarter. George told reporters after the game he blacked out, something the team says it wasn’t told initially.
George will have to undergo NBA-mandated testing before he’s cleared to play again. The series resumes in Miami Saturday tied at a game each.
NBA-TIMBERWOLVES-JOEGER
T-Wolves woo Joerger
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) β The Timberwolves have received permission to interview the Grizzlies Dave Joerger for their head coaching vacancy, two people with knowledge of the situation have told The Associated Press. The people requested anonymity because the Timberwolves are not commenting publicly on their coaching candidates. He will interview for the job on Thursday.
Joerger is a Minnesota native who went 50-32 in his first season as Grizzlies coach last season.
After owner Robert Pera fired CEO Jason Levien and director of player personnel Stu Lash, Joerger’s job security was called into question.
Minnesota is looking for a replacement for Rick Adelman who retired after last season.
NBA-KINGS
New arena coming for Sacramento
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) β In a late-night Tuesday meeting, the Sacramento City Council by a vote of 7-2 approved a package for a new arena for the NBA Kings. Construction on the $477 million facility will start this summer with an eye on being ready for the 2016-17 season.
NASCAR-HALL OF FAME
Scott elected to Hall
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β Wendell Scott has become the first African-American driver to be elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
The late driver from Virginia is among the latest group of five voted in the hall. Scott is joined by popular NASCAR champion Bill Elliott, two-time series champ Joe Weatherly, 1960 champion Rex White and 26-time race winner Fred Lorenzen.
Scott competed in NASCAR’s top series from 1961-73. He won his only race at Speedway Park in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1963, taking the checkered flag in the 100-mile feature after starting 15th. Scott started 495 Sprint Cup events and had a 147 top 10 finishes.
Scott was the second-leading vote getter behind Elliott from a 54-member panel, including current Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson.
NFL-JAGUARS
Falcons sign first rounder
UNDATED (AP) β The Atlanta Falcons have reached contract agreements with their first two NFL draft picks, offensive tackle Jake Matthews and defensive end Ra’Shede Hageman. Matthews was the sixth overall pick and is considered a possible starter at right tackle. Hageman was picked in the second round.
In other moves;
β The Chiefs have signed quarterback Aaron Murray, who was their fifth-round pick. Murray was considered a first-round talent a year ago, but he had this past season cut short by a torn ligament in his knee. The former Georgia star is also considered small for the position, standing 6-foot and weighing about 200 pounds.
β The Oakland Raiders have signed second-round pick Derek Carr to a four-year contract. The quarterback from Fresno State is expected to be a backup to starter Matt Schaub.
β Jacksonville has signed cornerback Aaron Colvin to a four-year deal. He’s a fourth-round draft pick from Oklahoma. The Jaguars also signed fifth-rounder Chris Smith, a defensive end from Arkansas.
NFL-OBAMA
Seahawks visit with the President
WASHINGTON (AP) β President Obama has paid tribute to the NFL champion Seattle Seahawks. He paid special attention to the team’s fans who, as he pointed out, set the record twice for noisiest crowd ever.
SPORTS-MEDIA
APSE to honor late Wendell Smith
WASHINGTON (AP) β Wendell Smith will be honored with the Associated Press Sports Editors’ Red Smith Award next month at the organization’s annual summer convention.
The late African-American sportswriter covered the Negro Leagues, boxing and convinced Brooklyn Dodgers president and general manager Branch Rickey to give Jackie Robinson a shot in the major leagues. Once signed by the Dodgers, Smith chronicled Robinson’s playing career for The Pittsburgh Courier.
