WORLD CUP
Germany crushes Brazil
UNDATED (AP) β Germany stunned host Brazil with five goals in the first 30 minutes and went on to a shocking 7-1 win to earn a spot in the title game. The result set World Cup records for most goals by one team and largest margin of victory in the semifinals. It was Brazil’s worst loss in World Cup play and their first home loss in a competitive match since 1975.
Miroslav Klose (KLOH’-seh) had one of the first half goals to set a World Cup record with his 16th career score. Toni Kross and Andre Schuerrle each scored twice for Germany.
The Germans will take on the winner of tomorrow’s semifinal between the Netherlands and Argentina for the World Cup championship Sunday.
NBA-FREE AGENCY-LEBRON
LeBron pondering next move
LAS VEGAS (AP) β LeBron James has held meetings for more than three hours in Las Vegas, but left without giving any indication of what team he’ll play for next season.
The four-time MVP told The Associated Press he had “no complaints” when asked how free agency was going. He declined to say whom he had met with or whether he had made a decision of where he’ll play next.
James is expected to meet with Miami Heat President Pat Riley before making a final decision on his NBA future, and a person close to the situation said that meeting had not happened as of Tuesday afternoon. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no one has publicly announced the date of the meeting.
Some of James’ representatives have met with several teams, including the Cleveland Cavaliers.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Reds knock off Cubs
UNDATED (AP) β Jay Bruce hit a two-run homer to help the Reds top the Cubs 4-2 in the first game of a doubleheader. Winning pitcher Johnny Cueto (KWAY’-toh) went 6 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits with four strikeouts to continue his recent mastery of the Cubs. Cueto is 5-0 in his last seven starts against them with a 1.19 ERA.
Yankees’ rookie sensation Masahiro Tanaka will attempt to become baseball’s first 13 game winner of the season tonight when he takes the mound against the Indians in Cleveland. Chosen to the All-Star team Tanaka has posted an earned run average of 2.27 and in 122 2/3 innings of work and has struck out 130 batters while allowing just 18 walks.
MLB-INJURIES
Votto sidelined
UNDATED (AP) β The Reds have placed first baseman Joey Votto (VAH’-toh) on the 15-day disabled list with a nagging thigh injury that is expected to limit him for the rest of the season. Catcher Brayan Pena was activated off the paternity list and will be a primary fill-in at first base while Votto is gone.
Votto earlier missed 23 games while on the DL with a strained muscle above his left knee. Tests found he has aggravated the injury.
In other news;
β Houston Astros outfielder Alex Presley has been put on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right oblique. Presley had a homer in Monday night’s win before having to leave in the middle of an at-bat.
β The Cleveland Indians have placed pitcher Justin Masterson on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his right knee. Masterson, the team’s opening day starter, is 4-6 with a 5.51 ERA. In his last five starts he has given up 19 runs, 27 hits and 17 walks in 18 innings. The right-hander allowed five runs and six hits in two-plus innings Monday against the New York Yankees, and was pulled without retiring a batter in the third.
β The Minnesota Twins have placed struggling right-hander Ricky Nolasco on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right elbow. Nolasco is 5-7 with a 5.90 ERA in 18 starts.
NASCAR-BUSCH PENALIZED
Kurt Busch, team penalized
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β NASCAR has penalized Kurt Busch and his Stewart-Haas Racing team for failing a post-race inspection at Daytona International Speedway.
Crew chief Daniel Knost was fined $10,000 on Tuesday because the track bar on Busch’s Chevrolet exceeded the maximum separation. Busch was also docked 10 driver points, and Gene Haas was docked 10 owner points.
Busch finished third in Sunday’s race.
NBA-STERLING
Clippers owner to testify
LOS ANGELES (AP) β Clippers’ owner Donald Sterling, who is challenging his wife’s $2 billion deal to sell the Los Angeles Clippers, was ordered to testify today after he skipped the opening of the case yesterday. Sterling was ordered to appear at this afternoon’s hearing after he couldn’t be found yesterday. Instead, the first testimony came from a neurologist who concluded that the 80-year-old team owner had Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr. Meril Sue Platzer testified that she was hired by Sterling’s wife, Shelly, to evaluate him and made the diagnosis based on two brain scans and a two-hour interview at his home with his wife and an attorney present.
Dr. Platzer said Sterling’s reaction to being told that he probably has Alzheimer’s was to say, “I’m hungry. I want to eat.”
USA BASKETBALL
Westbrook unable to play
UNDATED (AP) β USA Basketball says Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook will not participate this summer so he can rest some previous knee injuries. Chairman Jerry Colangelo says that USA Basketball knew his withdrawal was a possibility. Westbrook was a member of the Americans’ gold medal-winning teams at the 2010 World Championship and 2012 Olympics. He has had multiple knee operations since.
The Americans will begin training camp on July 28 in Las Vegas, a month before the World Cup of Basketball opens in Spain.
TOUR DE FRANCE
Another win for Kittel
LILLE, France (AP) β Marcel Kittel of Germany won the fourth stage of the Tour de France, giving him his third stage victory in this year’s event. Despite Kittel’s success, Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali retained the yellow jersey, symbolic of being the overall leader.
