GOLF-U.S. OPEN
Kaymer charges on
PINEHURST, N.C. (AP) — Martin Kaymer’s (KY’-murz) assault on Pinehurst No. 2 continues.
The first round leader has added three birdies to his 5-under 65 from yesterday to expand his lead in the second round of the U.S. Open at the turn. The 2010 PGA Championship winner has opened a five-shot bulge over unlikely contender Fran Quinn.
The 49-year old Web.com player is 1-under for the day early in his round, to get to 3-under for the tournament. Quinn has four Web.com wins, but none since 2010. He’s playing in the Open for the first time in 14 years.
Brendon De Jonge is on the back nine at 2 under par for the tournament.
Contenders Graeme McDowell, Kevin Na and Phil Mickelson are among those with afternoon tee times.
NHL-STANLEY CUP FINALS
Kings poised to win title
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The champagne is on ice once again, and so are the Kings and the Rangers. They’ll be playing Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals at Staples Center tonight. That gives the Kings an opportunity to skate Cup around in front of their home fans. They failed to win it in a sweep Wednesday night in New York when Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist stood on his head in making 40 saves to force the series back to LA.
The Kings will tie a single-season record by playing in their 26th post-season game. They’re hoping not to break that mark with a Game 6 back in New York.
Los Angeles is trying to earn their second Stanley Cup win in three seasons.
NBA-FINALS
Spurs head home in command
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The Spurs return to San Antonio needing just one more win over Miami to claim the NBA title. The celebration of a fifth league championship could come Sunday night in Game 5.
The Spurs put themselves in a commanding position with a pair of blowout wins in Miami including last night. They are on the verge of avenging a loss to the Heat in the finals last year.
But San Antonio could take a lesson from last year when they were a minute away from winning the title with a five-point lead, and blew it.
Both teams are scheduled to take the day off.
MLB-SCHEDULE
The best by the bay
UNDATED (AP) — The Bay area boasts the two top teams in the majors and both are at home as part of a full 15-game schedule under the lights.
San Francisco still tops the big leagues despite dropping three of four to NL East leader Washington. The Giants continue their home stand with a weekend series against the Rockies tonight. San Francisco has a huge 8 1/2 game lead over the second place Dodgers in the NL West.
Oakland takes the best record in the American League into the start of their series with the Yankees. The Athletics Sonny Gray tries to bounce back from his shortest outing of the season the last time out, when he was beaten by Baltimore. He fell to 6-2, allowing a season-high five runs on four hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings.
Seattle’s Felix Hernandez is coming off a 15 strikeout, no decision in his last start as he gets ready to take the mound at home against Texas. Hernandez has won his last five decisions to improve to 8-1. He’s 2-0 with a 1.19 ERA in his last three starts.
Clayton Kershaw is on quite a strikeout streak for the Dodgers. He’s fanned nine in each of his last four starts heading into tonight’s assignment against Arizona. Kershaw will be opposed by Chase Anderson who’s off to a perfect 5-0 start to his major league career. The Diamondbacks had given him more than enough support scoring 45 runs in his victories.
NASCAR-MICHIGAN QUALIFYING
Sprint Cup qualifying set
BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) — The NASCAR haulers have pulled into Michigan International Speedway for a weekend of racing. Qualifying for Sunday’s Sprint Cup race is scheduled for later today on the two-mile oval.
Jeff Gordon tops the standings with a 16-point lead over Matt Kenseth heading into the weekend. Greg Biffle has won two races in a row at the Michigan track.
SOCCER-WORLD CUP
World Cup finals rematch
UNDATED (AP) — The last time Spain and the Netherlands met was in the 2010 World Cup final. The two start this year’s World Cup play with their opening match today. Expect a physical match between the two. In Spain’s 1-0 title win four years ago, there were 13 yellow cards and one red card.
Mexico takes on Cameroon and Chile plays Australia in the other matches on today’s schedule.
