NHL PLAYOFFS
Blackhawks back in finals
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) β Jonathan Toews (tayvz) and the Chicago Blackhawks are four wins away from their third Stanley Cup championship in six seasons after winning the Western Conference finals.
The Hawks have advanced to the finals against Tampa Bay by defeating the Ducks in Game 7, 5-3 in Anaheim. Toews put the Blackhawks ahead to stay just 2:23 after the opening faceoff before making it 2-0 with a power-play goal midway through the first period.
Brandon Saad (sahd) and Marian Hossa (HOH’-sah) added second-period tallies to put Chicago ahead 4-0. Corey Crawford finished with 35 saves and blanked the Ducks until Ryan Kesler scored with 69 seconds remaining in the second period.
Patrick Kane had three assists for the Hawks, who won the last two games of the series by a combined 10-5 margin.
The Blackhawks split their two regular-season meetings with the Lightning, winning the first 3-2 in a shootout and losing 4-0 at Tampa. Game 1 of the finals is Wednesday in Tampa.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Houston loves Dallas
UNDATED (AP) β The Houston Astros have matched the best 50-game start in team history, just two years after setting a club record with 111 losses.
Dallas Keuchel (KY’-kul) struck out 11 while tossing a four-hitter in the Astros’ 3-0 win over the Chicago White Sox. It’s the second career shutout for Keuchel, whose 7-1 record is a big reason for the Astros’ 31-19 start.
Jonathan Villar put the Astros ahead with a sacrifice fly in the fourth, four innings before Evan Gattis and Chris Carter hit back-to-back homers.
Houston’s .620 winning percentage is tops in the American League, slightly better than Kansas City.
In other major league action:
β Williams Perez was sharp in Atlanta’s 8-0 laugher at San Francisco, yielding four hits in seven innings. Juan Uribe (yoo-REE’-bay) was 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and three runs scored as the Braves ended a two-game slide.
β The Angels outscored Detroit 8-6 behind homers from Mike Trout, Albert Pujols (POO’-hohlz), Kole Calhoun, Matt Joyce and Carlos Perez. Pujols slammed a three-run shot to cap a five-run second that put the Angels ahead 7-1.
β Charlie Morton limited the Padres to an earned run and three hits in seven innings to pitch Pittsburgh to a 5-2 triumph at San Diego. Josh Harrison, Gregory Polcano and Andrew McCutchen each went 2-for-5 with a run scored as the Pirates won for the eighth time in nine games.
β Carlos Beltran hit a two-run homer and had three RBIs as the New York Yankees downed Oakland 5-3. The Yankees’ bullpen came through with 4 1/3 shutout innings of one-hit ball after Nathan Eovaldi (eh-VAHL’-dee) was reached for three runs and 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings.
β Jerry Sands belted a two-run homer and Shaun Marcum allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings as Cleveland downed Seattle 4-3. Robinson Cano (kuh-NOH’) socked a two-run homer for the Mariners, but he also hit into a game-ending double play.
β Yasmani Grandal came off the disabled list and crushed a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the sixth inning of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 5-1 win at St. Louis. Carlos Frias held the Cardinals to an unearned run and five hits in seven innings.
βChris Hermann homered and Brian Dozier tripled home the go-ahead run in the seventh to lead Minnesota past Toronto 3-2. Trevor Plouffe was 2-for-4 with an RBI as the Twins climbed within a half-game of the AL Central-leading Royals.
β Cincinnati won its second straight since a 1-10 skid as Joey Votto (VAH’-toh) hit a two-run shot before the Reds scored four in the eighth to beat Washington 8-5. Zack Cozart hit a go-ahead, two-run double in the eighth before scoring on Billy Hamilton’s two-run single.
β Giancarlo Stanton homered twice and three other Marlins had two RBIs in a 9-5 drubbing of the New York Mets. J.Y. Realmuto and Jeff Baker also went deep as Miami beat the Meats for the second straight day.
β Homers by Nolan Arenado (ar-eh-NAH’-doh), Michael McKenry and Ben Paulson powered Colorado past the Phillies 5-2 in Colorado. Eddie Butler allowed a run and four hits in seven innings as the Rockies won for the sixth time in seven games.
β Erasmo Ramirez combined with two relievers on a three-hitter in Tampa Bay’s 3-0 shutout of the Orioles in Baltimore. Steven Souza Jr. and Joey Butler homered to back Ramirez, who gave up three hits and fanned seven in seven innings.
β Arizona knocked off Milwaukee 7-3 as Paul Goldschmidt hit a three-run homer and a solo shot. Winning pitcher Jeremy Hellickson singled home a run and gave up two runs and five hits in six innings.
β Chi Chi Gonzalez won his major league debut by carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning of the Rangers’ 8-0 rout of Boston. Robinson Chirinos hit a two-run double, and Leonys Martin (lee-OH’-nees mahr-TEEN’) and Hanser Alberto drove in two runs apiece as Texas won for the ninth time in 11 games.
β The Kansas City at Chicago Cubs game was postponed by rain and will be made-up during the last week of the season.
MLB-PLAYER NEWS
DL for Strasburg
UNDATED (AP) β The Washington Nationals have placed Stephen Strasburg on the 15-day disabled list after he had to leave Friday’s start after 16 pitches because of a stiff neck.
The left side of his neck tightened after the first inning of Friday’s 5-2 loss to the Reds, and he came out of the game after facing only one batter in the second inning.
Strasburg had a rough May, failing to last four innings in four of his five starts. He is 3-5 with a 6.55 ERA in 10 starts this season.
Also in the majors:
β The Los Angeles Dodgers have activated catcher Yasmani Grandal from the seven-day concussion disabled list. Outfielder Chris Heisey (HY’-see) was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City to make room for Grandal, who was batting .400 this month before the injury.
β Oakland Athletics left-hander Sean Doolittle is back on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left shoulder. Doolittle opened the season on the disabled list after missing spring training with a strained left rotator cuff.
β Slade Heathcott went on the New York Yankees’ disabled list with a right quad strain. Heathcott was hitting .353 with a home run and three RBIs in six games.
β Brewers reliever Will Smith will have a hearing Monday for his appeal of an eight-game suspension. He was punished after being found with a foreign substance on his arm while pitching in Atlanta on May 21.
NBA-PELICANS-GENTRY
Pelicans pick Gentry
NEW ORLEANS (AP) β A person familiar with the situation says the New Orleans Pelicans have hired Golden State Warriors assistant Alvin Gentry as head coach.
The person says Gentry is expected to remain with Golden State until the Warriors complete the NBA Finals against Cleveland.
Gentry has served as a head coach four times, compiling a career record of 335-370. His most successful stint came with Phoenix from 2008 to 2013.
Gentry succeeds Monty Williams, who was fired despite making the playoffs this season.
NBA FINALS
Warriors coach expects Thompson to play
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) β Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr says he expects All-Star guard Klay Thompson to play in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against Cleveland on Thursday. Kerr says he’s not even preparing for the Warriors to play without Thompson. He says Thompson is feeling well and progressing through the NBA’s concussion protocol.
Thompson suffered a concussion after getting kneed in the head by Houston’s Trevor Ariza (ah-REE’-zuh) in Golden State’s Western Conference finals-clinching win Wednesday night. Thompson must be symptom free before he can return to practice.
NFL-FALCONS
Atlanta inks lineman
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) β The Atlanta Falcons have signed nine-year veteran guard Chris Chester. He started all 64 of Washington’s games over the last four years. In joining the Falcons he will be reunited with Kyle Shanahan, the former Redskins offensive coordinator who’s beginning his first season with the Falcons under new coach Dan Quinn.
FRENCH OPEN-DAY 7
First week comes to a close in Paris
PARIS (AP) β Top seed Serena Williams has advanced to the fourth round of the French Open by winning an often contentious match against Victoria Azarenka (as-ah-REHN’-kah).
Williams is 16-3 versus Azarenka following a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory at Roland Garros. The 19-time Grand Slam champion was down 3-6, 2-4 before winning 10 of the last 12 games, including the final six.
The two exchanged gestures following a disputed call in the final game of the second set. Azarenka seemed to recover by take the first two games of the third set before Williams improved to 28-1 this year.
Other winners on the women’s side were fourth seed Petra Kvitova (kuh-VIT’-oh-vuh), but tenth seed Andrea Petkovic and No. 16 Madison Keys were ousted in straight sets.
Jack Sock is the lone American male still alive in the tournament, but his fourth-round match will be against nine-time champion Rafael Nadal. Sock was a 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 winner in the fourth round, and the sixth-seeded Nadal coasted to a 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 victory.
No. 1 Novak Djokovic (NOH’-vak JOH’-kuh-vich) won his third-round match in straight sets, as did third seed Andy Murray and No. 9 Marin Cilic (CHEE’-lihch). Seventh seed David Ferrer needed five sets to beat Italy’s Simone Bolelli.
INDYCAR-DETROIT
Munoz wins in the rain
DETROIT (AP) β Carlos Munoz won the rain shortened IndyCar event in Detroit. The race was called after 47 laps. The 23-year-old Colombian driver had a substantial lead when a caution flag came out with just over 30 minutes remaining in what was supposed to be a 2-hour race. The yellow flag was due to lightning in the area, and the race went under a red flag not long after that.
This was the first of two IndyCar races this weekend in Detroit.
GOLF-BYRON NELSON
Bowditch up by 2
IRVING, Texas (AP) β Steven Bowditch will carry a two-stroke lead into the final round of the AT&T Byron Nelson.
The Australian fired a 4-under 65 on Saturday for a 13-under total. Bowditch is seeking his second PGA Tour title, and his first since the Texas Open last year.
Dustin Johnson was in the group tied for second after the day’s low round of 62. Jonathan Randolph briefly held the lead but went in the water on 18 for a double bogey that dropped him into a tie with Johnson, Jimmy Walker, Scott Pinckney and John Curran.
Hometown favorite Jordan Spieth is six strokes back.
LPGA-SHOPRIGHT CLASSIC
Pressel looks to end winless drought
GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) β Morgan Pressel continues to hold a one-stroke lead with one round remaining in the ShopRite LPGA Classic at New Jersey.
Pressel had three birdies and a bogey for a 2-under 69 that leaves her at minus-7. She’s one ahead of Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist, who birdied the last three holes for a 69.
The 27-year-old Pressel is looking for her first tournament win since 2008.
