MLB-SCHEDULE
Astros rip King Felix
UNDATED (AP) β The Houston Astros entered Friday’s major league schedule on a seven-game losing streak, and their prospects didn’t look good with Seattle’s Felix Hernandez gunning to become the first 10-game winner of the season.
The skid is over after the Astros torched Hernandez for eight runs in just 1/3 of an inning before completing a 10-0 rout of the Mariners. Luis Valbuena belted a three-run shot and Jason Castro added a two-run homer that sent Hernandez to the showers.
Carlos Correa was the lone Astro without a hit in the first inning, but he made up for that by homering in the second. Chris Carter also went deep and Oberholtzer scattered three hits in eight innings to help the AL West leaders stay 2 Β½ games ahead of Texas.
Meanwhile, Toronto ran its winning streak to nine games by turning an 8-1 deficit into a 13-10 win over the Red Sox in Boston. Russell Martin hit a tiebreaking, three-run triple in the Blue Jays’ nine-run seventh. Justin Smoak smacked a two-run homer in the seventh and had three RBIs for the Jays, who have scored at least six runs eight times during their winning streak.
Also in the majors:
β Elvis Andrus (AN’-droos) had a career-high four RBIs and Texas got the tiebreaking runs on a two-out error by center fielder Aaron Hicks in a 6-2 win over Minnesota. Andrus hit a two-run homer in the seventh to end the Rangers’ 20-inning scoreless streak.
β Jaime Garcia pitched eight innings of four-hit ball and helped himself with an RBI single as St. Louis ended Kansas City’s four-game winning streak, 4-0. Jon Jay snapped a 2-for-24 slump this month with a two-out RBI triple in the second off Yordano Ventura, who was removed in the third as a precaution due to weakness in his pitching hand.
β Joey Butler was 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI singles as Tampa Bay downed the Chicago White Sox 7-5. Butler’s final RBI capped a three-run sixth that put the Rays ahead 6-2.
β Chris Davis ripped a three-run homer and had four RBIs as Baltimore crushed the New York Yankees, 11-3. Caleb Joseph also went deep and the Orioles’ bullpen threw four shutout innings after Ubaldo Jimenez (oo-BAHL’-doh hih-MEH’-nehz) gave up three runs and six hits in five innings.
β David Price tossed a seven-hitter and Miguel Cabrera drove in every run to lead Detroit’s 4-0 shutout of Cleveland. Cabrera delivered a three-run homer and an RBI double to back Price, who struck out eight in his third career shutout and first since 2012.
β Oakland enjoyed a 4-3 lead until Mike Trout and Kole Calhoun hit solo homers in the eighth inning to power the Angels past the A’s 5-4. Calhoun had three RBIs to help the Angels overcome homers by Brett Lawrie, Josh Phegley and Josh Reddick.
β Chase Anderson outpitched Madison Bumgarner by allowing just one hit over seven innings of Arizona’s 1-0 triumph at San Francisco. Ender Inciarte (ihn-see-AHR’-tay) singled home the game’s lone run in the second inning of Bumgarner, who dropped to 7-3 despite tossing eight strong innings.
β Justin Turner and Alex Guerrero hit RBI singles in the eighth inning of the Dodgers’ 4-3 victory over the Padres at San Diego. The Dodgers withstood seventh-inning homers by Clint Barmes (BAHR’-mehs) and Derek Norris to earn their fourth straight win and stretch their lead in the NL West to 2 1/2 games over the Giants.
β Bartolo Colon picked up his team-high ninth win by yielding two runs and six hits in six innings of the New York Mets’ 5-3 decision over Atlanta. Wilmer Flores smacked his team-leading 10th homer and John Mayberry added a two-run blast for the NL East leaders, who are 1 Β½ games ahead of Washington.
β Aramis (ah-RAH’-mihs) Ramirez hit three doubles and drove in five runs as Milwaukee doubled up the Nationals 8-4, Washington’s 11th loss in 14 games. Mike Fiers (FY’-urz) had been 2-6 before allowing three runs and only five hits in seven innings.
β Pittsburgh beat Philadelphia 1-0 on Starling Marte’s (mahr-TAYZ’) third hit of the night, an RBI single in the bottom of the 13th. It is the Pirates’ longest 1-0 shutout victory since a 13-inning marathon against the New York Mets in July 1976.
β Eugenio Suarez made an impact in the Reds’ 5-4 win over the Cubs in Chicago, delivering a tiebreaking single in the 10th inning. Todd Frazier hit his team-high 18th homer, doubled home a run and scored the game-winner to help Cincinnati win for the fifth time in six games.
β J.T. Realmuto (ree-ul-MYOO’-toh) launched a three-run homer and Martin Prado (PRAH’-doh) smacked a solo shot in Miami’s second straight win, 5-1 against Colorado. Jose Urena (oo-RAY’-nuh) picked up his first major league win by limiting the Rockies to a run and six hits in 6 2/3’s.
MLB-RED SOX-FAN INJURED
Injured fan released
BOSTON (AP) β That Massachusetts woman who was seriously hurt when a broken bat flew into the stands at Fenway Park last week has been released from a hospital.
Officials at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston say that Tonya Carpenter has transferred to a rehabilitation center. Doctors describe Carpenter’s recovery as “excellent” and say she’s getting stronger every day.
MLB-NEWS
Hunter appeals suspension…Pence on DL
UNDATED (AP) β Torii Hunter was in the Minnesota Twins lineup Friday at Texas after appealing his two-game suspension for an outburst in his previous game. Hunter had to be restrained briefly after being ejecting for arguing a called third straight in the eighth inning on Wednesday. He later threw his elbow pad, shin guard and batting glove and threw them toward the batter’s box before ripping off his jersey and tossing that.
In other baseball news:
β Giants right fielder Hunter Pence has been placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 3 because of a sore left wrist. Pence was hitting .282 with two homers and 13 RBIs.
β The Washington Nationals have activated newly acquired reliever David Carpenter after placing right-hander Aaron Barrett on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right bicep. Barrett left Thursday night’s 6-5 loss to Milwaukee in the middle of an at-bat by Hernan Perez in the eighth inning.
β The St. Louis Cardinals have placed right-hander Lance Lynn on the 15-day disabled list with a forearm strain. Lynn is 4-4 with a 3.07 ERA in 12 starts this season after winning at least 15 games the previous three years. The Cardinals have recalled lefty Tyler Lyons to start tomorrow against the Kansas City Royals.
β Switch-pitcher Pat Venditte (vehn-DEE’-tee) has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right shoulder. Oakland recalled right-hander Arnold Leon from Triple-A Nashville to fill the roster spot.
β The Detroit Tigers have optioned starting pitcher Shane Greene to Triple-A Toledo after going 4-6 with a 5.82 ERA in 13 games. Greene allowed only one run in his first three games but has struggled since.
NFL-SIGNINGS
Pats sign Flynn…Bucs bring back Wright
UNDATED (AP) β The New England Patriots have signed Matt Flynn to shore up the quarterback position with Tom Brady facing a four-game suspension. Flynn provides depth at a spot where the Patriots only have second-year pro Jimmy Garoppolo.
Brady was suspended by the NFL for his role in the deflated football incident in the AFC Championship game. His suspension could be reduced at a hearing with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on June 23.
Flynn was a seventh-round draft pick by Green Bay in 2008 and made his first NFL start on a Dec. 19, 2010 loss to New England.
In other NFL moves:
β Tight end Tim Wright is back with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who claimed him off waivers a day after he was released by New England. Tampa had traded Wright to the Patriots before last season in exchange for Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins.
β The St. Louis Rams have signed first-round pick Todd Gurley, along with the rest of their draft class. But he’s rehabbing from knee surgery and might not be ready for the season opener.
NBA-FINALS-RATINGS
Boffo Game 4 overnights
NEW YORK (AP) β The NBA Finals’ Game 4 has drawn its highest television rating in more than a decade.
The Golden State Warriors’ 103-82 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night to even the series at 2-2 averaged an 11.7 rating on ABC. That’s the best since the Pistons-Lakers series in 2004.
ESPN said the nearly 19.8 million viewers were up 34 percent from the 14.8 million for last year’s matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat.
The series resumes Sunday at Oakland.
NHL-COYOTES-FUTURE
Coyotes go to court over lease
PHOENIX (AP) β The Arizona Coyotes are seeking a restraining order to prevent the city of Glendale from dissolving its arena lease agreement with the team.
The NHL team says the restraining order is needed to stop the city’s “improper attempt” to void a 15-year agreement signed in 2013 to play at the Gila River Arena.
The Glendale City Council voted Wednesday to dissolve the agreement, angering the team and fans and creating uncertainty about the team’s future.
NASCAR-MICHIGAN
Kahne ends pole drought
BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) β Kasey Kahne (kayn) has captured his first Sprint Cup pole in nearly 32 months, topping qualifying at Michigan International Speedway with a lap of 201.992 mph. It’s the 27th pole of his career, but the first for the 35-year-old driver since October 2012 at Kansas. Points leader Kevin Harvick was second, followed by Brad Kesewloski (kehs-LOW’-skee), Carl Edwards and Ryan Blaney.
GOLF-ST. JUDE CLASSIC
Koepka in second round lead
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) β Brooks Koepka (KEHP’-kuh) is the leader at 9-under through two rounds of the PGA’s St. Jude Classic, one shot ahead of Austin Cook.
Koepka had a share of the first-round lead before carding a 3-under 67 that included four birdies and a bogey. Cook moved into contention with a 64.
Steve Alker was the leader with two holes to play before finishing bogey-double bogey. He’s two strokes back and one ahead of seven others.
LPGA-WOMEN’S PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
Kim leads through 36
HARRISON, N.Y. (AP) β Sei Young Kim eagled the 15th hole for a 5-under 68 and a one-shot lead after the second round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, the second major of the season.
The 22-year-old Kim shot bogey-free golf to finish at 8-under 138 at the Westchester Country Club. She is seeking her third LPGA win of the year.
Kim overtook Hall-of-Famer Karrie (KAHR’-ee) Webb, who birdied the 18th for a 71. Two-time defending champion Inbee Park shot a 68 to join Webb a stroke back.
GOLF-SENIOR PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP
Langer widens lead
BELMONT, Mass. β Bernhard Langer has a comfortable four-stroke lead halfway through the Senior Players Championship.
Langer had six birdies and no bogeys in firing his second straight 65 for a 12-under total. Russ Cochran is second following a 65, and Steve Pate set a course-record with a bogey-free 63 that puts him in a tie for third with Lee Janzen and Jesper Parnevik at minus-6.
SOCCER-WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
US ties Sweden
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) β The United States was unable to clinch a spot in the knockout round of the Women’s World Cup on Friday.
The Americans played to a scoreless tie against Sweden, leaving them 1-0-1 heading into Tuesday’s game against Nigeria. Abby Wambach came off the bench in the second half and fired a header that was deflected over the crossbar by the Swedish goalkeeper.
The U.S. leads Group D with four points, one more than the Australian team that lost to the Americans 3-1 in the opener.
Sweden is 0-0-2 after earning their second straight tie for former U.S. coach Pia Sundhage.
Australia beat Nigeria 2-0, Japan topped Cameroon 2-1 and Switzerland crushed Ecuador 10-1.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-NO MORE INDIES
Last NCAA independent joins Atlantic Sun
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) β NCAA men’s and women’s basketball no longer has any independent institutions now that the New Jersey Institute of Technology agreed to join the eight-team Atlantic Sun Conference.
The lone independent among 351 Division I basketball schools over the past two years will be part of the conference in all sports beginning in the fall.
