MLB-SCHEDULE
Mets going for fifth straight
UNDATED (AP) — The red-hot New York Mets look to extend their winning streak to five games tonight with another contest in Miami. The combination of the Mets’ winning and the Nationals’ losing has propelled the New Yorkers into first place over Washington in the National League East.
The Nationals are looking to end their four game skid with a home game tonight against Arizona. The Nats are sending their ace to the mound, Max Scherzer, who was drafted by the Diamondbacks in the first round of the 2006 draft. He allowed a run in seven innings against the DBacks in May.
Jimmy Rollins returns to Citizens Bank Park tonight for the first time since the Phillies traded him to the Dodgers last off season. The Phillies’ career hits leader is hitting just .216 for the Dodgers with eight steals. The former National League MVP played 15 seasons for the Phillies, who plan to honor him before the game. The Dodgers start the night with a three game lead over the Giants in the NL West. San Francisco is on the road this evening for a game with the Braves.
After falling behind the Angels in the American League West standings, the Astros have been hot and regained the division lead as the Angels have been losing. Tonight Houston is in Arlington, Texas, for a game with the Rangers, while the Angels are home to the Indians.
The rest of the schedule has the Yankees home to the Red Sox, the Cubs in Pittsburgh, Minnesota playing in Toronto, the Tigers home to the Royals, St. Louis at Cincinnati, Chicago’s White Sox home to the Rays, San Diego at Milwaukee, the Rockies entertaining the Mariners and the Orioles at Oakland.
BASEBALL-HOME RUN KING
Hessman stands No. 1
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — The best slugger in professional baseball is a player not known by most major league fans. The man in question is Mike Hessman of the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens, and on Monday night he became the career home run leader in U.S. based minor league history.
In a game against Lehigh Valley, Hessman hit his 433rd career minor league home run. And he set the mark in grand fashion as he hit a grand slam to break a tie on the career list with Buzz Arlett, a guy who played in the minors from 1918 to 1937.
The 37-year old Hessman has played in 109 major league games for Atlanta, Detroit and the New York Mets but has not appeared in the majors since 2010. For the record, he has 14 home runs in the majors and a .188 batting average.
DIVING-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
U.S. women do well in Russia
KAZAN, Russia (AP) — The U.S. won gold and silver in the 20-meter high diving competition at the world championships in Russia. The winner of the gold was Rachelle Simpson, who beat defending champion Cesilie (SEHS’-ihl-ee) Carlton for the top spot.
Diving last into the Kazanka river in the final round, former gymnast Simpson landed the highest-scoring dive of the competition, earning 102 points for a total of 258.70 from three rounds. Carlton finished second with a total of 237.35.
This was high diving’s second appearance at the world championships, after Carlton won on the 2013 debut in Barcelona.
NFL-OBIT
Former Lions’ running back dies
DETROIT (AP) — Running back Mel Farr of the Detroit Lions was the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1970. He spent his entire seven year career with the Lions and finished with just over 3,000 yards rushing.
The club says his son has confirmed that Farr has died at the age of 70.
Farr played college football at UCLA, finishing seventh in the voting for the 1966 Heisman Trophy.
