HORSE RACING-KENTUCKY DERBY
Favorite wins Kentucky Derby
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) β American Pharoah is the winner of the 141st Kentucky Derby. Jockey Victor Espinoza earned his second straight Derby win by guiding the favorite through a three-way stretch duel with Firing Line and Dortmund. American Pharoah thundered along the outside to give trainer Bob Baffert his fourth Kentucky Derby win and first since 2002.
Firing Line, with 52-year old jockey Gary Stevens aboard, finished second with previously unbeaten Dortmund third.
BOXING
It’s here — Mayweather vs. Pacquiao
LAS VEGAS (AP) β One of the most hyped fights in boxing history finally takes place late tonight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas — unbeaten Floyd Mayweather against Manny Pacquiao (PAK’-ee-ow).
The 38-year-old Mayweather is 47-0. He weighed in at 146 pounds two less than the 148-pound limit. Pacquiao is 57-5-2 lifetime, and he’s two years younger than Mayweather at 36. Pacquiao weighed in at 145.
Whatever happens in the ring, Mayweather is ahead in one important category. He is said to be guaranteed $120 million from the bonanza $200 million purse that includes pay-per-view TV money. Pacquiao will get $80 million.
NBA PLAYOFFS-SCHEDULE
Clippers, Spurs in Game 7 at Staples Center
LOS ANGELES (AP) β There will be a Game 7 tonight to decide who advances out of the first round in the NBA Western Conference. The L.A. The Clippers forced the game in Los Angeles by winning for the second time in San Antonio Thursday night, 102-96.
No other first-round series has gone the distance.
Blake Griffin had 26 points and 12 rebounds and Chris Paul had 19 points and 15 assists as Los Angeles held on Thursday night.
NHL PLAYOFFS-SCHEDULE
Rangers even things up
NEW YORK (AP) β The New York Rangers apparently got over that gut-wrenching loss to the Capitals the other night. After losing on home ice Thursday 2-1 on a last second goal, the Rangers evened things up with a 3-2 win. Chris Kreider got things going early as he scored 38 seconds after the opening faceoff. Dan Boyle and Derick Brassard also scored and Henrik Lundqvist made 30 saves for the Rangers.
The Capitals Alexander Ovechkin (oh-VECH’-kin) excited the crowd with a spectacular third period goal but it wasn’t enough for the visitors.
Game 3 will take place in Washington Monday.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Orioles “home” again at the Trop
UNDATED (AP) β Because of security concerns in Baltimore, the Orioles had their home series shifted to the Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, where they technically will be the home team in Game 2 of their weekend series against the Tampa Bay Rays. It’s Miquel Gonzalez for the Orioles against Chris Archer, who carries a 3-2 record into tonight’s start for the Rays.
In afternoon play the Yankees beat the Red Sox 4-2. The visiting Yankees have won the first two games of the three-game set. Brett Gardner led the way with three runs batted in as the Yankees have won 12 of their last 15 games.
β Mike Fiers struck out 12 in six innings and Ryan Braun homered as the Brewers beat the Cubs 6-1. The 1-3 Fiers combined with three relievers for 18 strikeouts in the victory.
β The White Sox have been outscored 35-8 in their last four games and consequently have lost four in a row. The most recent loss came at the hands of the Twins who got home runs from Trevor Plouffe and Torii Hunter. The twins have won seven of their last 10.
Tonight, the AL West-leading Houston Astros try to continue their fine start when they play Seattle. The NL East-leading New York Mets are home against Washington, Atlanta hosts Cincinnati, Kansas City is home to Detroit, Texas hosts Oakland, San Diego is home to Colorado and the L.A. Dodgers host Arizona.
MLB-RED SOX
Sox lose catcher
BOSTON (AP) β The Red Sox have placed catcher Ryan Hanigan on the 15-day DL with a fractured right pinkie. He suffered the injury in Friday’s loss to the Yankees. The 34-year-old Hanigan hit .222 with one homer and five RBIs before the injury.
NASCAR
Gordon grabs pole
TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) β Jeff Gordon will start Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway from the pole. He earned the 80th pole of his career with a lap of 194.793 miles per hour. The six-time winner at Talladega will start from the front row along with Hendrick teammate Kasey Kahne (kayn).
This is the third pole of the season for Gordon, who opened the year with the fastest lap in Daytona 500 qualifying. He is still seeking his first win of the season, his last before he retires.
LPGA-TEXAS
Two way tie after threes
IRVING, Texas (AP) β Lexi Thompson and Inbee Park are tied for the lead after three rounds of the LPGA’s North Texas Shootout. Each stands 9-under-par, one shot in front of Karrie (KAHR’-ee) Webb, Angela Stanford and Brooke M. Henderson. Webb had the best round of the day, a 7-under-64.
World No. 1 Lydia Koi is well back at even par.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
Allen takes the lead
WOODLANDS, Texas (AP) β Michael Allen stands in first after two rounds of the Champions Tour event outside of Houston. He shot a 4-under-68 in the second round to finish play 10-under, one shot in front of Joe Durant. Woody Austin, Scott Dunlap and Tom Lehman (LAY’-muhn) are tied at minus-8.
OBIT-SNOWBALL SANTA
Eagles’ Santa Clause passes away
PHILADELPHIA (AP) β The man who was booed and pummeled with snowballs as he was introduced on the field during a Philadelphia Eagles game in 1968 has died. Frank Olivo was 66. The incident took place decades before cell phones and the Internet but it was caught on film and played on TV stations across the country.
Olivo’s cousin says the snowball-pelted Santa took it all in stride and that he “gloried in it.”
Apparently Olivo told one nearby fan who had hit him squarely with a snowball that he could expect coal in his stocking that Christmas morning.
