GOLF-US OPEN
Johnson climbs leaderboard
UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. (AP) β The final round of the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay should be quite competitive.
Jason Day fired a 2-under 68 to move into a four-way tie for the lead with Dustin Johnson, Branden Grace and Masters champ Jordan Spieth (speeth) at 4-under. Day had four birdies in his final seven holes after his bogey on the par-4 11th hole dropped him to even par for the tournament.
The Australian was playing one day after he collapsed from a bout of vertigo. He said the vertigo returned on the back nine on Saturday, causing him to feel nauseous over the final hour and causing him to think about quitting.
Johnson shot a 70 that included five birdies, three bogeys and a double-bogey before he parred the last five holes. Grace’s even-par 70 featured a birdie on 15 that put him among the co-leaders.
Spieth had the worst third round of the co-leaders, a 1-over 71 that included just one birdie in his final 12 holes. Spieth was 7-under for the tournament following consecutive birdies on the par-4 second and par-3 third.
Louis Oosthuizen (WUHST’-hy-zehn) shot the day’s best round. He was 1-over for the tournament before carding back-to-back birdies on the back nine for a 4-under 66 and a 1-under total. He’s part of a four-way tie for fifth with Cameron Smith, Shane Lowry and J.B. Holmes.
Rory McIlroy shot an even-par 70 that puts him in a tie for 24th at plus-4.Phil Mickelson is out of contention following a 77 that leaves him 10-over and 16 shots off the pace.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Scherzer fires season’s second no-no
UNDATED (AP) β Max Scherzer tossed a one-hitter in Milwaukee last Sunday, striking out 16 in his second career complete game. He outdid himself on Saturday, tossing the majors’ second no-hitter of the season and joining exclusive company.
Scherzer also pitched the second no-hitter in Washington Nationals history, striking out 10 in a 6-0 shutout of Pittsburgh. He was one strike from a perfect game until he hit Jose Tabata (TAB’-ah-tah) on the elbow. He completed the gem by retiring Josh Harrison on a deep fly to left.
Jordan Zimmermann is the other National to throw a no-hitter, doing it in last year’s season finale.
According to Baseball-Reference.com, Scherzer is the fifth pitcher since at least 1914 to allow just one hit or fewer in consecutive complete games, and the first since Jim Tobin of the Boston Braves in April 1944.
The no-hitter comes 11 days after San Francisco’s Chris Heston did it against the New York Mets.
Bryce Harper hit a solo homer and an RBI single to back Scherzer, who owns a 1.76 ERA following his second consecutive shutout. Tyler Moore added a two-run single in a four-run sixth as the Nationals won their second straight since a 6-14 skid.
Also in the majors:
β Randal Grichuk (GRIH’-chuhk) was productive in the Cardinals’ 10-1 romp at Philadelphia, going 3-for-5 with a pair of homers, four RBIs and three runs scored. Jason Heyward was 3-for-5 with two RBIs, and John Lackey gave up a solo homer to Cody Asche (ASH’-ee) and just four other hits in seven innings for his sixth win. The Redbirds lead the majors at 45-23 and top the NL Central by six games over Pittsburgh.
β Evan Longoria hit a three-run homer in the first inning before Tampa Bay completed its fourth straight win, 4-1 at Cleveland. The Rays’ bullpen held the Indians to a run and four hits in six innings after starter Erasmo Ramirez left the game with a strained right groin in the fourth. The Rays continue to lead the AL East by one game over the New York Yankees.
β The Yankees crushed Detroit 14-3 as Alex Rodriguez supplied a three-run homer and five RBIs. Carlos Beltran smacked a pair of solo homers and had three ribbies, and Didi Gregorius and Chris Young also went deep. Nathan Eovaldi gave up just two runs and three hits in six-plus innings after being torched for eight runs over two-thirds of an inning in his previous start.
β Kendrys (KEHN’-drihs) Morales hit a two-run homer to cap a five-run fifth in Kansas City’s 7-4 decision over Boston. Salvador Perez smacked a solo homer and Mike Moustakas (moo-STAH’-kahs) drove in a pair as the Royals won for the fifth time in six games. Kansas City stretched its lead in the AL Central to 3 Β½ games over Minnesota.
β Starlin Castro was 2-for-5 with a tiebreaking, two-run single in the 10th inning of the Chicago Cubs’ 4-1 triumph over the Twins in Minnesota. Jason Motte (maht) worked a scoreless ninth to improve to 4-1 after Jon Lester held the Twins to a run and three hits in 6 1/3 innings. Kurt Suzuki hit a second-inning homer before the Twins ended a three-game winning streak.
β The Blue Jays had won nine straight at home before Caleb Joseph snapped a 2-2 tie with an RBI single in a three-run ninth that sent Baltimore to a 5-3 victory in Toronto. Manny Machado added a two-run double in the ninth to finish 3-for-5. The Jays fell one shy of the longest home winning streak in club history, set at Exhibition Stadium in 1985.
β Justin Maxwell hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the fifth inning and Brandon Belt added a two-run blast in the sixth to power San Francisco past the Dodgers 6-2 in Los Angeles. Tim Hudson improved to 5-6 by yielding two runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings, including first-inning solo homers by Joc Pederson and Justin Turner. The outcome puts the Giants within a half-game of the NL West-leading Dodgers.
β Andrelton Simmons was 4-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored as Atlanta handed the New York Mets their fourth consecutive loss, 6-4. A.J. Pierzynski (peer-ZIHN’-skee) was 3-for-4 with a double, a triple and three runs scored to help the Braves improve to 4-1 at home against the Mets this season. Curtis Granderson and Travis d’Arnaud (dahr-NOH’) homered for the Mets, who dropped a half-game behind the NL East-leading Nationals and fell to 10-23 on the road.
β The Chicago White Sox pulled out a 3-2 win over Texas to end a season-worst, eight-game losing streak. Adam Eaton had two singles and scored a run in the White Sox’s highest-scoring output in seven games. Carlos Rodon gave up two runs and four hits in six innings to get the win.
β Nelson Cruz, Seth Smith and Mark Trumbo hit solo homers in Seattle’s 6-3 win over Houston. Winning pitcher Taijuan Walker struck out seven over 6 1/3 innings as the Mariners kept the AL West-leading Astros 2 1/2 games ahead of the Rangers.
β Charlie Blackmon hit a two-run homer and had three RBIs as Colorado dumped the Brewers 5-1. Winning pitcher Chad Bettis looked good for 6 1/3 innings, limiting the Brewers to an Adam Lind homer and four other hits while striking out five to help the Rockies end a five-game losing streak.
β Jesse Hahn pitched into the eighth inning and the Oakland A’s hit four RBI doubles in a 4-1 verdict over the Los Angeles Angels. Hahn lowered his ERA to 3.40 by yielding just a run and four hits in 7 2/3s. Stephen Vogt (voht) was 3-for-3 with an RBI double in the Athletics’ first win in three games.
β Justin Nicolino was a winner in his major league debut as he surrendered just four hits in seven innings of Miami’s 5-0 shutout of Cincinnati. Derek Dietrich homered twice and had three RBIs as the Marlins ended a three-game skid.
β Tyson Ross fanned nine in a four-hitter as San Diego hammered Arizona 8-1. Melvin Upton Jr. hit a two-run homer, Derek Norris added a solo shot and Clint Barmes was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored in the Padres’ second victory in seven games.
NBA-HAWKS-FERRY
Investigation says Ferry not motivated by racial bias concerning Deng
ATLANTA (AP) β An independent investigation has found former Atlanta Hawks general manager Danny Ferry was not motivated by racial bias in making statements which ultimately ended his time with the team.
Ferry spent this season on an indefinite leave of absence following his racially derogatory comments about potential free agent Luol Deng (LOO’-ul dehng). The Hawks agreed to a buyout of the final two years of Ferry’s contract on Friday.
The Atlanta law firm, Alston and Bird concluded the review of more than 24,000 documents and 19 interviews provided no evidence of “negative bias toward Mr. Deng, his race or his country of origin.” The firm said Ferry was not the cause of the controversy and determined the “heart of the dispute was an unfortunate disagreement amongst owners.”
COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
Virginia advances
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) β It will be Virginia taking on Vanderbilt in the College World Series finals for the second straight year.
The Cavaliers advanced on Saturday as Kenny Towns drove in three runs, including the winner in the seventh inning of a 5-4 victory over Florida. Josh Sborz pitched four innings of shutout relief for the Wahoos, who bounced back from Friday’s 10-5 loss to the Gators. Sborz ran his shutout innings streak to 23 since May 15.
Vanderbilt and Virginia open their best-of-3 series Monday in Omaha.
NHL-FLAMES
Flames ink center
CALGARY (AP) β The Calgary Flames have signed center Mikael Backlund to a multi-year contract. He had 10 goals and 27 points in 52 regular-season games last season for the Flames after missing 30 games because of injury. Backlund was drafted by the Flames 24th overall in the 2007 NHL draft.
SOCCER-WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
Top-ranked Germans advance
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) β Celia Sasic scored twice and top-ranked Germany advanced to the Women’s World Cup quarterfinals with 4-1 win over Sweden.
Anja Mittag opened the scoring in the 24th minute for the Germans, who will take on the winner of Sunday’s match between France and South Korea. Sasic and Mittag both lead the tournament with five goals each.
China also reached the Cup quarters by downing Cameroon 1-0 on a goal by Shanshan Wang in the 12th minute. The Chinese will play either the U.S. or Colombia on Friday, June 26.
The Americans face Colombia on Monday.
F1-AUSTRIAN Grand Prix
Hamilton earns another pole
SPIELBERG, Austria (AP) β Reigning Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton will start the Austrian Grand Prix from the pole position after edging his Mercedes teammate Nico (NEE’-koh) Rosberg in qualifying. Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel had the third-fastest time after posting the quickest in the second and third practice runs. Williams driver Felipe Massa was fourth.
