NHL PLAYOFFS
Kings advance to conference finals
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Kings are in the NHL’s Western Conference finals after improving to 6-0 when facing elimination.
Six Kings collected two points and Jonathan Quick stopped 25 shots as Los Angeles blitzed the top-seeded Anaheim Ducks 6-2. Justin Williams put the Kings ahead to stay with a power-play goal 4 1/2 minutes after the opening faceoff before Jeff Carter and Mike Richards tallied later in the period. Goals by Anze Kopitar (AHN’-zhay KOH’-pih-tahr) and Marian Gaborik (GAB’-uh-rihk) made it 5-0 with 5:52 left in the second period.
Richards, Kopitar, Gaborik, Carter and Williams each had a goal and an assist, while Kyle Clifford set up two scores.
Quick had a shutout until Kyle Palmeiri (pal-MEHR’-ee) beat him late in the second.
Next up for the Kings are the defending Stanley Cup-champion Chicago Blackhawks, who knocked out Minnesota in six games.
The Ducks’ ouster means that no division champions reached the conference finals, the first time that’s happened since 1993.
MLB-SCHEDULE
A’s crush Indians
UNDATED (AP) — Just seven major league teams were more than three games over .500 at the start of Friday’s action. One of those teams was the Oakland Athletics, who’ve won seven of eight to move ten games over .500.
Josh Reddick launched a grand slam and Josh Donaldson added a three-run blast while the A’s erupted for eight runs in the second inning of an 11-1 pounding of Cleveland. Reddick also socked a two-run homer and finished with six RBIs as Oakland improved to 26-16.
Sonny Gray tamed the Indians for six innings, yielding just a run and two hits while striking out nine. Gray and the A’s blanked the Indians following Nick Swisher’s first-inning homer.
The only team with a better record in the American League is the Detroit Tigers, who are 25-12 following a 1-0 win at Boston. Max Scherzer scattered three hits in six-plus innings before the Tiger bullpen tossed three hitless innings of relief. Scherzer outdueled Jon Lester, who struck out seven over five innings but surrendered Torii Hunter’s RBI single in the top of the first.
Also in the majors:
— Casey McGehee (mih-GEE’) and Garrett Jones stroked RBI singles in the top of the ninth to lift Florida past San Francisco 7-5. Derek Dietrich hit a two-run homer, Christian Yelich smacked a solo shot and McGehee finished with two RBIs to help the Marlins win for just the fifth time in 21 road games.
— Zack Greinke threw eight shutout innings of five-hit ball in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 7-0 romp over Arizona. Yasiel Puig (YAH’-see-ul pweeg) was 3-for-5 with a solo homer and an RBI double, and Scott Van Slyke added a bases-empty blast.
— Jorge De La Rosa carried a no-hitter through six innings and pitched seven scoreless innings in Colorado’s 3-1 win against San Diego. De La Rosa’s bid for the first no-hitter by a Rockies pitcher at Coors Field ended when Chris Denorfia led off the seventh with a triple.
— Allen Craig had three hits, drove in a run and scored twice in the Cardinals’ 5-2 win against Atlanta in St. Louis Lance Lynn limited the Braves to two runs and seven hits in seven innings for his fifth win.
— Kyle Lohse (lohsh) gave up homers by Darwin Barney and Junior Lake but allowed just five other hits over seven innings to help Milwaukee win for the fifth time in six games, 4-3 over the Cubs in Chicago. Jean Segura had three hits and two RBIs for the Brewers, who are 15-9 against their division.
— Alfredo Simon struck out eight over 7 2/3 innings while giving up just five hits in Cincinnati’s 3-0 shutout at Philadelphia. Neither team scored after Devin Mesoraco’s three-run homer in the top of the first, which allowed Simon to improve to 5-2.
— Tanner Roark (ROH’-ahrk) combined with four relievers on a seven-hitter in Washington’s 5-2 triumph over the New York Mets. Tyler Moore had two hits and two RBIs as the Nationals improved to 4-0 against the Mets this season.
— Chris Tillman tossed a five-hitter in his first major league shutout as Baltimore beat the Royals’ 4-0 in Kansas City. Chris Davis hit a solo homer after Nelson Cruz collected two RBIs.
— Drew Hutchison also pitched his first major league shutout by limiting the Rangers to three hits in a 2-0 win at Texas. Melky Cabrera snapped a scoreless tie with a two-run double in the eighth.
— David Archer issued five walks but allowed only two hits over 5 2/3 innings as Tampa Bay blanked the Los Angeles Angels 3-0. Yunel Escobar (yoo-NEHL’) Escobar provided three of the Rays’ six hits, including a tiebreaking homer in the fifth.
— Kyle Gibson allowed one run in seven innings of Minnesota’s 5-4 victory over Seattle. Brian Dozier and Josmil (yohs-MEEL’) Pinto smacked solo homers after Dozier and Trevor Plouffe hit RBI doubles in the third to put the Twins ahead to stay.
— The White Sox fell behind 2-0 before Adam Dunn slugged a three-run homer and Conor Gillapie added a two-run double in Chicago’s 7-2 win at Houston. Jose Quintana allowed two runs and seven hits in five innings for his first win since April 8.
—Pittsburgh’s game against the Yankees in New York has been postponed by rain. It will be made up as part of a single-admission doubleheader Sunday.
MLB-INDIANS
Salazar sent down
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Indians have optioned hard-throwing Danny Salazar to Triple-A Columbus after he struggled in eight starts this season. He was 1-4 with a 5.53 ERA, striking out 47 in 40 2/3 innings but allowing 49 hits, including eight home runs. Salazar started a playoff game for the Indians last October after opening the season in “A” ball.
MLB-RANGERS
Surgery may be needed by Rangers’ Perez
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers will meet with left-hander Martin Perez on Saturday to determine if the injured starter will undergo Tommy John surgery. The 23-year-old felt discomfort in his elbow in his start last Saturday. An examination revealed inflammation, and he said this week he’s leaning toward having the procedure done.
Perez is 4-3 with a 4.38 earned-run average in eight starts after going 10-6 as a rookie.
NBA-STERLING
Sterling balks at NBA fine
UNDATED (AP) — Donald Sterling is preparing a full-court press for the NBA.
An attorney for the Los Angeles Clippers owner has written the NBA stating that Sterling does not intend to pay the $2.5 million fine imposed by the league for racist comments, a person with knowledge of the letter’s contents said.
Sports Illustrated first reported the letter from Maxwell Blecher. The contents were confirmed by the person who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.
Blecher acknowledged sending a letter but would not discuss its contents Friday.
NBA-THUNDER/IBAKA
Thunder lose Ibaka for rest of playoffs
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Thunder forward and defensive specialist Serge Ibaka (ih-BAH’-kah) will miss the rest of the NBA playoffs because of a left calf injury. Ibaka was injured during the third quarter of Thursday night’s win over the Clippers, which put Oklahoma City in the Western Conference finals. He averaged 12.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in 13 postseason games.
NHL-PENGUINS-GM
Pens axe GM
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The fallout has begun in Pittsburgh after the Penguins lost the Eastern Conference semifinals by blowing a 3-1 series lead against New York.
General manager Ray Shero is out, and the fate of head coach Dan Bylsma (BYLZ’-muh) will be determined by Shero’s successor. The Pens challenged for the top seed in the Eastern Conference until the Olympic break and managed to win the Metropolitan Division with relative ease despite a string of major injuries. They went 7-3 in their first 10 postseason games and were within one victory of the conference finals before their high-powered offense was held to one goal in each one of their last three games by Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers.
Shero’s departure comes eight years after he was asked to build a team around Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and five years after the Pens captured their third Stanley Cup.
Assistant general manager Jason Botterill will serve as general manager on an interim basis and is considered a candidate to replace Shero.
NFL-COLTS
Sacks’ champ suspended
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The NFL has given Indianapolis Colts linebacker Robert Mathis a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Mathis set a franchise record with 19 1/2 sacks last season, winning the league title in that category. Mathis can participate in offseason workouts, training camp and preseason games before the suspension begins.
GOLF-BYRON NELSON CHAMPIONSHIP
Todd leads
IRVING, Texas (AP) — Brendon Todd is the leader at 8-under through 36 holes of the Byron Nelson Championship near Dallas.
Todd birdied his final two holes for a 6-under-par 64 that leaves him two shots ahead of eight players, including Martin Kaymer and Paul Casey. Kaymer is seeking back-to-back victories after taking The Players Championship last weekend. Casey was over par before matching the PGA Tour record for the best score on a back nine, an 8-under 27 with six birdies and an eagle. That was part of his 7-under 63 that was the low round of the day.
CHAMPIONS TOUR-REGIONS TRADITION
Calcavecchia’s late birdie gives him lead
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Mark Calcavecchia (kal-kah-VEK’-ee-uh) sank an 8-foot birdie putt on the final hole to take a one-stroke lead over Jay Haas at the midway point of the Regions Tradition at Shoal Creek. Calcavecchia shot his second straight 3-under 69 to reach 6-under. Haas had a 70 after entering the round as part of a four-way tie with Calcavecchia in the Champions Tour’s first major of the season.
LPGA-KINGSMILL CHAMPIONSHIP
Park beats rain
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) — Hee Young Park had the clubhouse lead during the second round of the rain-delayed LPGA Kingsmill Championship. She followed up her opening round 66 with a 3-under-68 to stand 8-under for the tournament.
Stacy Lewis and Brittany Lang are in the clubhouse at minus-7. Lexi Thompson was at 8-under when she made the turn.
Rain held up the start of second round play, pushing back start times.
US GOLF OPEN
Former champ withdraws
FAR HILLS, N.J. (AP) — The U.S. Golf Association has confirmed that former U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell has withdrawn from this year’s championship. He wrote on his website earlier in the week that he has some problems with a tendon in his left ankle. Campbell won the U.S. Open in 2005, the last time it was held at Pinehurst No. 2.
NASCAR
Bowyer, Allmendinger lock up spots for Saturday’s race
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Clint Bowyer (BOY’-ur) has won the Sprint Showdown to advance into the $1 million All-Star Race.
AJ Allmendinger finished second to also advance into Saturday night’s main event.
Josh Wise also gained a spot in the All-Star race through fan vote, beating out favorite Danica Patrick.
BLACK-EYED SUSANS
Annual pre-Preakness race is in the books
BALTIMORE (AP) — Stopchargingmaria pulled away from Vero Amore in a two-horse stretch duel to win the $500,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, a Grade 2 race for 3-year-old fillies. Stopchargingmaria, the 7-2 favorite, sat back behind pace-setter Image of Anna before driving to the finish under jockey Javier Castellano.
It was the fourth Black-Eyed Susan win for trainer Todd Pletcher. The winning time was 1:51.79 over 1 1/8 miles on a good track.
The Preakness takes place Saturday at Pimlico.
SOCCER-US WOMENS COACH
Ellis lands top job
UNDATED (AP) — Jill Ellis has been named the U.S. national team coach in the run-up to the women’s World Cup soccer tournament next year in Canada. Ellis has been the interim coach since Tom Sermanni was surprisingly dismissed in early April after an exhibition victory against China. Ellis was on the staff of the gold medal-winning U.S. teams at the Beijing and London Olympics.
HOCKEY-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Canada, US win
MINSK, Belarus (AP) — Cody Hodgson scored twice in the second period to help spark Canada’s 6-1 win over Italy at the ice hockey world championship. Seth Jones scored twice including the game winner to help the United States end a two-game losing streak by beating Kazakhstan 4-3 in overtime.
LEGAL-COACHES INVESTMENTS
Donnan not guilty on all charges
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — A jury on Friday found former University of Georgia football coach Jim Donnan not guilty on all 41 charges related to an investment fraud scheme. Donnan faced charges including conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering. Donnan’s lawyers maintained he was duped and thought he was sharing an opportunity with friends.
