TENNIS-FRENCH OPEN
Sharapova takes another major title
PARIS (AP) β Maria Sharapova is the French Open women’s champion for the second time in three years.
The seventh-seeded Sharapova has claimed her fifth major title by taking down No. 4 Simona Halep (HAL’-ehp), 6-4, 6-7, 6-4 in a match that took more than three hours to complete. Sharapova overcame 12 double faults and seven service breaks in preventing Halep from winning her first Grand Slam title.
Sharapova took the long road to the title, needing three sets to win her last four matches. This was the first of the four in which she didn’t drop the first set.
Sharapova also won the French Open in 2012, knocking out Sara Errani (ehr-RAH’-nee) before falling to Serena Williams in last year’s final.
Halep had never been beyond the Grand Slam quarterfinals until this tournament and was ranked 57th just 12 months again. She was trying to become Romania’s second Grand slam titlist, joining 1978 French Open Virginia Ruzici (roo-ZEECH’).
HORSE RACING-BELMONT STAKES
California Chrome aims for history
ELMONT, N.Y. (AP) β The names are legendary in horse racing history. Whirlaway, Citation, Secretariat, Affirmed.
California Chrome will be trying to join their sparse ranks as the 12th Triple Crown winner in today’s Belmont Stakes. But it won’t be easy.
Eighteen horses have gone into the race with a chance to join the Triple Crown club only to be turned aside by the grueling mile-and-a-half conclusion to horse racing’s big three. War Emblem, Funny Cide, Smarty Jones and Big Brown failed in the Belmont after winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in the last 12 years alone.
Ten rivals led by Wicked Strong, Tonalist and Ride On Curlin will try to keep California Chrome, jockey Victor Espinosa and trainer Art Sherman from ending a 36-year drought Triple Crown drought.
NHL-STANLEY CUP FINALS
Rangers, Kings meet again
LOS ANGELES (AP) β Game 2 of the Stanley Cup finals between the Kings and Rangers is on tap tonight in Los Angeles. The Kings are on top after capturing the opener in overtime.
Los Angeles is expected to welcome veteran defenseman Robyn Regehr (reh-GEER’) back to the lineup after missing 14 games with a knee injury. Kings coach Darryl Sutter said yesterday that Regehr “probably” will play in Game 2, which means assistant captain Matt Greene could be the odd-man out on defense.
Defenseman John Moore is eligible to return for the Rangers after a two-game suspension for a hit on Montreal’s Dale Weise (wees) in the conference finals. Moore’s availability could send fellow blueliner Raphael Diaz to the bench.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Buehrle guns for 11
UNDATED (AP) β The Toronto Blue Jays have the right guy on the mound as they seek their seventh straight win today against St. Louis.
Mark Buerhle (BUR’-lee) is going for his seventh consecutive win as he tries to become the first 11-game winner of the season. The lefty owns a 2.10 ERA and hasn’t lost since April 25 in Boston, when the Jays fell to 11-12. Since then, the Blue Jays have gone a major league-best 27-12 to take a six-game lead in the American League East. Only the San Francisco Giants have a larger lead in a division race.
Shelby Miller takes the mound for the sputtering Cardinals, who are on pace to miss the playoffs after winning the National League pennant last season. The Redbirds are just 31-31 this year and 21-25 since April 17, putting them five games behind Milwaukee in the NL Central race.
The Blue Jays-Cardinals matchup opens today’s major league schedule. Also this afternoon, Zach Greinke (GREHN’-kee) tries to rebound from his worst outing of the season when he gets the start for the Dodgers at Colorado. He fell to 8-2 after giving up four runs on five hits in seven innings. He’s still among the National League leaders with a 2.50 ERA.
Jeff Samardzija’s (suh-MAR’-juh) ERA rose from 1.68 to 2.54 after he gave up eight runs in three innings in his last start. He’s hoping for better then he gets the start for the Cubs against Miami. Samardzija is 1-5.
It’s a full 15-game schedule in the majors today and tonight.
GOLF-ST. JUDE CLASSIC
Crane leads backed-up field
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) β Ben Crane still enjoys a comfortable lead in the second round of the PGA’s St. Jude Classic in Memphis.
Crane is the clubhouse leader at 12-under after he followed Thursday’s 63 with a 5-under 67. He managed to complete his second round yesterday before rain caused play to be suspended. Today’s play was pushed back several hours due to fog.
Peter Malneti was at 8-under through seven holes in his second round. Ted Potter Jr. and Retief Goosen (reh-TEEF’ GOO’-sehn) made the turn at minus-7, with Carl Pettersson in the clubhouse at 6-under.
Crane is trying to earn his fifth PGA Tour win and the first since 2011.
LPGA-MANULIFE FINANCIAL LPGA CLASSIC
Park, Feng share lead
WATERLOO, Ontario (AP) β South Korea’s Hee Young Park and China’s Shanshan Feng are tied for the lead heading into today’s third round of the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic. Both have gone through the 36 holes without a bogey. Michelle Wie (WEE) starts the day one shot back, while Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist trails by two.
GOLF-CURTIS CUP
Americans have lead
ST. LOUIS (AP) β The United States tries to stay on track to win back the Curtis Cup. The Americans take a 5-1 lead over Britain and Ireland into the second day of matches with Southern California’s Annie Park leading the way with two match wins. Three foursomes matches and three four-ball matches are on today’s schedule. The competition wraps up Sunday with eight singles matches.
GOLF-CHAMPIONS TOUR
Two teams tied
RIDGEDALE, Mo. (AP) β The teams of Russ Cochran and Kenny Perry along with Jeff Sluman and Fred Funk are tied for the lead heading into the second round of the Champions Tour’s rain-delayed Legends of Golf. They are 10-under after their better-ball rounds.
