MLB-SCHEDULE
Royals look to start new streak
UNDATED (AP) — The Royals are back home Kansas City to open a series with Seattle after having their 10-game winning streak ended by Detroit yesterday.
James Shields gets the job of trying to get KC back to its winning ways. He takes an 8-3 mark and five-game personal winning streak into his start against the Mariners.
Detroit has its own eight-game winner scheduled as it tries to overcome its half-game deficit at the top of the AL Central to Kansas City. Rick Porcello takes an 8-4 mark into his start against the Indians in the series opener in Cleveland. The weekend series is also big for the Indians, who are just 2 1-2 games out of first in the division.
Atlanta will try to regroup after losing starter Gavin Floyd to a broken bone in his elbow last night. The Braves continue their series with Washington tonight, trailing the NL East-leading Nationals by a half-game. The Braves had lost eight of 12 before last night’s shutout of the Nationals but have won six of seven from Washington this season.
NL West-leading San Francisco had a day off yesterday and maybe that’s what they needed. The Giants open a road series at Arizona having lost five in a row.
The Cubs host Pittsburgh in the only day game on the 15-game major league schedule.
NBA-CAVALIERS/COACH
Cavs want Blatt
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cavaliers hope their lengthy coaching search could be nearing its conclusion.
Cleveland has offered successful European coach David Blatt its coaching job and is discussing a contract with him, according to a person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team is not commenting.
The 55-year-old Blatt recently resigned as coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv, this year’s Euroleague champion, to pursue his dream of coaching in the NBA.
The Massachusetts-born, Princeton-educated Blatt is regarded as one of the game’s best offensive strategists.
Blatt’s possible hiring comes just a week before the Cavs will pick first in the NBA draft.
WORLD CUP
Italy, Costa Rica heads up 3-game schedule
UNDATED (AP) — Italy faces Costa Rica in a match of opening-game winners today at the World Cup. The meeting will be of great interest to 0-2 England, which is on the verge of heading home after losing to Uruguay yesterday. A Costa Rica win or tie would end the tournament for England.
The winner of the today’s France-Switzerland match will be in good position to finish atop Group E, and likely avoid a second-round match against Argentina.
Honduras and Ecuador will play knowing that defeat will end hope of qualifying for the knockout stages.
GOLF-US Women’s Open
Lewis off to good start in U.S. Women’s Open
PINEHURST, N.C. (AP) — Top-ranked Stacy Lewis is the leader heading into today’s second round of the U.S. Women’s Open at Pinehurst. Lewis shot a 3-under 67 for a one-stroke edge over Michelle Wie (WEE).
Thirty golfers had to finish up their first round this morning after severe weather forced the suspension of play yesterday.
Lewis is looking for her third major championship win.
GOLF-TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP
Steele has lead
CROMWELL, Conn. (AP) — Brenden Steele is the leader heading into today’s second round of the Travelers Championship. He holds a one-shot edge over Ryan Moore and Bud Cauley.
GOLF-ENCOMPASS CHAMPIONSHIP
Monty, Perry head up field
GLENVIEW, Ill. (AP) — The Champions Tour is back in action this week with today’s opening round of the Encompass Championship. Colin (KAH’-lihn) Montgomerie heads up the field coming off a win in the Senior PGA Championship. Kenny Perry is also playing, coming off his tie for 28th last week at the U.S. Open. This will serve as a tune-up event for the Senior Players Championship next week.
COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
Rebels get rematch with Cavs
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Mississippi faces a second straight day of elimination at the College World Series when it takes on Virginia. The Rebels stayed alive with a win over TCU last night, and will be looking for a measure of revenge against the Cavaliers who beat them 2-1 on Sunday. A win for No. 3 national seed Virginia would put them in next week’s best-of-three championship series.
Like Mississippi, Texas is facing elimination when it faces unbeaten Vanderbilt. The Longhorns have won two straight after dropping their opening game to UC Irvine.
TENNIS-WIMBLEDON DRAW
Murray, Djokovic could meet at Wimbledon
LONDON (AP) — Andy Murray will start the defense of his Wimbledon title against David Goffin (goh-FAHN’) of Belgium and could face top-seeded Novak Djokovic (NOH’-vak JOH’-kuh-vich) in the semifinals.
The draw put Murray in the top half with Djokovic, who won Wimbledon in 2011 and was runner-up last year. Second-seeded Rafael Nadal is in the bottom half with seven-time champion Roger Federer.
In the women’s draw, top-ranked and five-time champion Serena Williams is in the same quarter as French Open champion Maria Sharapova. They could face each other in the quarterfinals
BASEBALL-CUBAN DEFECTOR
Cuban slugger defects
HAVANA (AP) — Cuban authorities say hard-hitting outfielder Yasmani Tomas of Havana’s powerhouse ballclub Industriales has defected.
According to BaseballdeCuba.com, Tomas hit .286 last year with 15 homers, 45 runs scored and 60 RBIs.
The website says he is “without doubt the ‘slugger’ of the team.”
