ROCKIES LOSE TO REDS
Cincinnati, OH—The Colorado Rockies lost to the Reds in Cincinnati 3 to nothing. Reds’ starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo held the Rockies to four singles over 8 innings.
BRONCOS ROOKIE TIGHT END IMPRESSING COACHES
ENGLEWOOD (AP) – The most intriguing new face turning heads at the Denver Broncos’ offseason workouts isn’t Montee Ball or Sylvester Williams. It’s third-year tight end Julius Thomas. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound former power forward is finally healthy after spending the bulk of his first two seasons with the Denver Broncos dealing with a bum right ankle. Treating every practice like it’s game day, Thomas is finally flashing the skills that made him an attractive prospect coming out of Portland State in 2011 even though he had played just one season of college football. Last week, he outraced the safeties and hauled in a 50-yard TD pass from Peyton Manning. This week, he stretched out his long, lean body for a one-handed grab in the flat before weaving his way into the end zone.
BRONCOS VETERAN RUNNING BACK BEING CHALLENGED
ENGLEWOOD (AP) – Willis McGahee apparently is counting on history repeating itself. The grizzled running back skipped some of last year’s offseason workouts, then showed up at the mandatory minicamp and handily won the Denver Broncos’ starting job during training camp.
His absence this time around is much more of a gamble. McGahee is pushing 32, he’s coming off a serious knee injury, he’s set to make $2.5 million this season and the void he left at practice has been filled nicely by second-year speedster Ronnie Hillman and rookie Montee Ball, who scored an NCAA-record 83 touchdowns at Wisconsin.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORTS…
UNDATED (AP) – Pro Football Hall of Famer David “Deacon” Jones has died. The Washington Redskins report the 74-year old died of natural causes. Jones is credited with coining the term “sack” for how he knocked down quarterbacks. Jones made the Pro Bowl every year from 1964-70 and played in eight overall.
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Chicago can take a commanding 3-0 lead over the Kings in the NHL’s Western Conference final tonight in Los Angeles. The Blackhawks won the first two games of the series on their own ice by outscoring the defending NHL champion Kings 6-3. Game 4 is slated for Thursday in L.A.
UNDATED (AP) – Washington’s Jordan Zimmermann and Tampa’s Matt Moore are both looking for their ninth win of the season tonight. Zimmermann’s Nationals are home to the Mets, while Moore and the Rays are in Detroit. Only one pitcher has won nine games this season, Arizona’s Patrick Corbin.
PARIS (AP) – The quarterfinals take center stage today at the French open. On the men’s side second-seed Roger Federer is playing sixth-seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (SAHNG’-guh) and fourth-seed David Ferrer is facing No. 32 Tommy Robredo (roh-BRAY’-doh). For the women, top-seed Serena Williams is playing Svetlana Kuznetsova (svet-LAH’-nah kooz-NET’-so-vah), and fourth-seed Agnieszka Radwanska (ahg-nee-ESH’-kuh rahd-VAHN’-skuh) is up against No. Sara Errani (ehr-RAH’-nee).
UNDATED (AP) – The scene is set for the start of the NBA Finals. The Miami Heat clinched the Eastern Conference title last night with a 99-76 pasting of the Indiana Pacers in the seventh game of their series. The Heat will now take on the San Antonio Spurs for the right to be called NBA champs.
