MLB-SCHEDULE
Good pitching matchup today
UNDATED (AP) β Four day games are on the agenda in baseball today. In Detroit the division-leading Tigers and division-leading Dodgers are squaring off just hours after last night’s 14-5 Tigers win. In that game Detroit rapped out a season-high 20 hits. Miguel Cabrera was one of five Detroit players with three hits. The Tigers start the day with a 4 Β½ -game lead over the Royals in the American League Central while the Dodgers top the Giants by a game in the National West. The pitching matchup is a good one as 11-game winner Zack Greinke (GREHN’-kee) goes for the visitors against 10-game winner Max Scherzer.
In other afternoon play the American East-leading Blue Jays are once again playing host to the Angels. They’ve split the first two games of their series and wrap things up today. The Rockies are home to the Padres today while the Diamondbacks are hosting the Marlins.
On tap tonight the Giants and Athletics play Game 3 of their four-game set. The home-standing Athletics have won the first two games and six straight overall. They lead all of baseball with a record of 57-33 and sit in first place in the AL West while the Giants are in second in the NL West behind L.A.
NBA-HORNETS
Report: Charlotte to sign
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β It looks like another NBA free agent is coming off the market. A person close to the situation says restricted free agent Gordon Hayward has agreed to a maximum offer sheet with the Charlotte Hornets that would pay the small forward $63 million over the next four years. The Utah Jazz would have three days to match the deal once Hayward officially signs the offer sheet.
The person commented to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Hayward can’t officially sign the offer sheet until Thursday.
Hayward, who visited with the Hornets this week, averaged 16.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game last season for Utah.
WORLD CUP
Netherlands and Argentina play for spot in title match
BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (AP) β Germany made a strong statement on Monday when it blew by host Brazil 7-1 to win the first World Cup semifinal. Now we will see how the remaining two semifinalists, Argentina and Netherlands, respond. They are squaring off today for the second spot in Sunday’s championship match.
Dutch captain and all-time top scorer Robin van Persie is in doubt for today’s contest as he has been fighting a stomach problem.
Brazil’s stunning defeat was the nation’s worst loss in World Cup play and their first home loss in a competitive match since 1975. By losing, the host nation has been relegated to the third-place match, which will take place on Saturday.
TOUR DE FRANCE
Race hits Belgium
YPRES, Belgium (AP) β Defending champion Chris Foome (froom) has withdrawn from the Tour de France after crashing in the fifth stage, a day after hurting his wrist in a crash in the fourth stage of the race. The withdrawal of the main pre-race favorite leaves the three-week cycling showcase wide open.
Today’s leg is taking place in Belgium. Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali started the day still wearing the leader’s yellow jersey. Today’s stage covers 94.5-miles over a route that includes seven rough, cobblestoned sections toward the end. The stage was to have nine cobblestoned sections, but due to wet conditions, race organizers scrapped two of them before the start.
Nibali has a two-second lead over a group that includes defending champion Chris Froome and two-time winner Alberto Contador (KAHN’-tuh-dohr).
NBA-STERLING
Clippers owner bac in court
LOS ANGELES (AP) β Donald Sterling is scheduled to be back in a Los Angeles courtroom today to testify for a second day as he challenges his wife’s proposed $2 billion sale of the Clippers. During a 90-minute appearance on the witness stand yesterday he denounced doctors who declared him to have Alzheimer’s disease as “hired guns.” A lawyer himself, Sterling seemed to dominate the proceedings, at one point telling a lawyer, “stand up and be a man.”
The 80-year-old billionaire contends that his estranged wife, Shelly, had no authority to singlehandedly arrange a team sale to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.
Sterling says he believes he can get billions more by selling Clippers TV rights to Fox and if he wins an antitrust suit against the NBA.
