DENVER (AP) – Denver Broncos kicker Matt Prater has signed a new four-year contract. The team’s executive vice president of football operations, John Elway, announced the deal Monday. The team didn’t release the terms. Prater has played for the Broncos for five seasons and converted more than 80 percent of his field goal attempts during that time. Last season, he converted four game-winning field goals in overtime or as time expired.
Denver–The Colorado Rockies closed out their homestand with a loss to the last place San Diego Padres yesterday at Coors Field 2 to nothing. Former Rockies closer Huston Street pitched a perfect 9th inning to earn his 12th save. The Rockies are in Saint Louis tonight to take on the Cardinals.
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) – Today marks the start of the second week of play at Wimbledon and the women’s top-seed, Maria Sharapova (shah-rah-POH’-vah) has been eliminated. The world No. 1 was beaten by 15th-seed Sabine Lisicki (suh-BEEN’-uh LEE’-zy-kee), 6-4, 6-3.
Women’s sixth-seed Serena Williams advanced to the quarterfinals with a three-set win over Yaroslava Shvedova (yah-roh-SLAV’-uh SHVEH’-doh-vuh). Williams cruised through the first set in windy conditions before the hard-hitting Shvedova found her rhythm in the second, breaking the American twice to even the match. Williams then wasted three break points at 4-4 in the third before eventually breaking for a 6-5 lead. She clinched the victory with a backhand winner on her first match point. Williams will next face defending champion Petra Kvitova (kuh-VIHT’-oh-vuh).
In other key matches, women’s second-seed Victoria Azarenka (ah-zah-REN’-kuh) is playing, as is No. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska (ahg-nee-ESH’-kuh rahd-VAHN’-skuh).
On the men’s side of things, along with top-seed Novak Djokovic (NOH’-vak JOH’-kuh-vich), third-seed Roger Federer has a match, as does fifth-seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (SAHNG’-guh) who is playing tenth-seed Mardy Fish. And unseeded American Brian Baker continues his quest for advancement in a Grand Slam event.
MLB-SCHEDULE
All of the action will be under the lights
UNDATED (AP) – It’s the start of a new week and new matchups in Major League Baseball. Perhaps the best matchup on paper will take place in Los Angeles as the Dodgers entertain the Reds. Visiting Cincinnati starts the night with a one game lead over Pittsburgh in the National League Central, while the Dodgers are a game back of first-place San Francisco in the NL West.
The Pirates are home this evening to the Astros. James McDonald of the Bucs is going for his eighth win against three defeats.
A pair of National League nine-game winners are looking to get another win tonight. Atlanta’s Tommy Hanson is 9-4 and tonight he and the Braves are playing host to the Cubs. At the same time, in Milwaukee, Zack Greinke (GREHN’-kee) of the Brewers is toeing the rubber against Miami.
The remaining NL games feature Colorado at St. Louis and San Diego at Arizona.
In the American League, Tampa Bay kicks off a series with the Yankees in New York. The early-July set gives the Rays a chance to gain some ground on the first place Pinstripes. In the AL East, the Rays are 7 1/2 games back of the Yankees.
Jered Weaver of the Angels is going for his ninth win of the year tonight with a game in Cleveland against the Indians. The Tribe has won two in a row and is just a game and a half back of first-place Chicago in the Central. The Angels have won seven of 10 and are now 5 1/2 back of the Rangers in the West. Both Chicago and Texas have the night off.
The rest of the AL card has Minnesota playing in Detroit, the Red Sox at Oakland, Baltimore at Seattle with Jason Hammel of the Orioles going for his ninth win and Kansas City at Toronto. Ricky Romero of the Jays is out to win his ninth game of the year as well.
NHL-DEVILS
Brodeur re-ups with Devils
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) – Martin Brodeur (mahr-TAN broh-DYOOR’) is coming back to the New Jersey Devils. His agent has confirmed with The Associated Press that the 40-year old goaltender has signed a new two-year contract. The deal is worth $9 million and more than likely will allow the veteran to finish his career with the Devils.
The NHL’s all-time winningest goaltender, Brodeur has led the Devils to three Stanley Cups and two other finals, including a loss to the Los Angeles Kings in six games this past season.
