BANGED UP ROCKIES LOSE RUBBER GAME TO NATIONALS
DENVER (AP) – Ryan Zimmerman homered and drove in three runs, Ian Desmond got four hits and the Washington Nationals beat the depleted Colorado Rockies 5-4 on Thursday. The Rockies lost four players and a coach, as well as the rubber match of the three-game series. Outfielders Carlos Gonzalez and Dexter Fowler were injured early and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki left in the eighth with a fractured rib. The team says the National League’s second leading hitter will be out 4 to 6 weeks. Reliever Wilton Lopez and pitching coach Jim Wright were ejected in the seventh. Craig Stammen (4-2) threw two scoreless innings. Rafael Soriano got his 17th save after giving up an RBI single to pinch-hitter Todd Helton with two outs. The Rockies host the Philadelphia Phillies tonight.
FORMER COLORADO COLLEGE HOCKEY STAR DIES
DALLAS (AP) – Dallas Stars prospect Scott Winkler has died in his home country of Norway after recently completing his senior season at Colorado College. He was 23. School officials said in a news release that Winkler died unexpectedly Wednesday at his parents’ home. The native of Asker, Norway, was a third-round pick by the Stars in 2008. The school said Winkler graduated from Colorado College on May 20 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. Winkler came to the U.S. in 2007 and played for Cedar Rapids in the United States Hockey League the year he was drafted by Dallas. He later enrolled at Colorado College and compiled 63 points in 120 career games. He had career highs of 13 goals and 28 points last season.
BRONCOS SHOW McGAHEE THE DOOR
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) – The Denver Broncos have released Willis McGahee, their leading rusher last year. The 31-year-old running back is the NFL’s active leader with 33 100-yard games. McGahee is coming off a right knee injury that sidelined him for the final two months last season. The 11-year veteran was set to make $2.5 million in 2013. McGahee skipped all of the team’s 10 voluntary workouts but returned to Dove Valley for their three-day mandatory minicamp that ends Thursday. With second-year pro Ronnie Hillman and rookie Montee Ball getting most of the work out of the backfield this week, McGahee was relegated to a handful of snaps. McGahee said Tuesday he was confident he’d keep his starting job and didn’t regret skipping the workouts. He says he “probably would have been behind the 8-ball either way.”
ELSEWHERE IN SPORTS…
ARDMORE, Pa. (AP) – Luke Donald shot a 2-over 72 to take the clubhouse lead in the second round of the rain-delayed U.S. Open. Donald had to finish up his 2-under 68 first round earlier in the day and stands at even par for the 36 holes.
NEW YORK (AP) – Arizona pitcher Ian Kennedy has been issued a 10-game suspension for intentionally throwing at Dodgers pitcher Zach Greinke (GREHN’-kee), sparking a bench-clearing brawl in Tuesday night’s game. Arizona’s Eric Hinske (HIHN’-skee) has received a five-game suspension, while Dodgers players J.P Howell and Skip Schumacher and coach Mark McGwire have been issued two-game suspensions. In all, 12 members of both teams were either suspended or fined or both.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) – The Buffalo Bills have signed first-round pick EJ Manuel, who is expected to compete with veteran Kevin Kolb (KAHB) for the Bills’ starting quarterback job. The 6-4, 237 pound Manuel went 25-6 in four seasons with the Seminoles.
DETROIT (AP) – Detroit forward Drew Miller has confirmed to The Associated Press that he’s agreed to a three-year, $4.05 million contract with the Red Wings. The deal keeps the defensive-minded, penalty-killing forward off the market as a free agent next month.
