ROCKIES AVOID SWEEP AGAINST DODGERS
DENVER (AP) – Michael Cuddyer hit a solo homer and drove in three runs to help the Colorado Rockies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-5 on Thursday night.
Cuddyer, who recently had his team-record, 27-game hitting streak snapped, also added a two-run double as the Rockies avoided being swept by Los Angeles in the three-game series. Carlos Gonzalez contributed an RBI double before leaving late in the game with an apparent injury. The Rockies had no update. The Dodgers struggled to drive in runners against Jhoulys Chacin (8-3), a night after setting season highs in runs (10) and hits (17). The hard-throwing righty pitched out of trouble time and again, giving up four runs in 5 2-3 innings.
TULO ON THE MEND
DENVER (AP) – Troy Tulowitzki went through a light round of batting practice on Thursday with minimal pain from his broken rib and thinks he could be back soon, maybe even before the All-Star break. The Colorado Rockies’ shortstop has been on the disabled list since June 14 after hurting his rib diving for a ball in a loss to Washington.
Tulowitzki says he took “very easy swings” in batting practice before the game against Los Angeles. He still sent quite a few over the fence.
RAPIDS SHUTOUT NY
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (AP) – Nathan Sturgis scored in the 47th minute and Clint Irwin got his sixth shutout of the season to lift the Colorado Rapids to a 2-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls on Thursday night. Deshorn Brown also scored for Colorado (7-7-5), which last lost at home to New York on July 8, 2007 – improving to 4-0-1 since.
New York (8-7-4) was shut out for the fifth time this season and fell to 2-3-1 in its last six matches.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORTS…
LONDON (AP) – Novak Djokovic advanced to the Wimbledon final with a five-set victory over Juan Martin del Potro on Friday, a 4-hour, 43-minute match that was the longest semifinal in the tournament’s history.Djokovic won 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-7 (8), 6-3 to reach his 11th Grand Slam final. He is one victory away from his seventh major title.
On Sunday, he’ll play the winner of the semifinal between No. 24 Jerzy Janowicz of Poland and No. 2 Andy Murray of Britain.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) – Qualifying is on tap today for tomorrow night’s NASCAR race at Daytona International Speedway. Last time the Sprint Cup drivers were at the track, Jimmie Johnson won the Daytona 500 in February and continues to lead the points standings heading into this weekend’s race.
MONTELLIER, France (AP) – Daryl Impey is making history today as the first South African to lead the Tour de France as the grueling race enters its seventh stage. Four moderate climbs are in store for the riders during the 127-mile run today.
CLEVELAND (AP) – Detroit takes a three-game winning streak into the start of their weekend series with AL Central rival Cleveland tonight. The Tigers own a game-and-a-half lead over the Indians, who will start Justin Masterson. He’s chalked up a major league leading three shutouts among his ten wins this season.
