ROCKIES WIN, TAKE SERIES FROM GIANTS
DENVER (AP) – Juan Nicasio scattered three hits over six innings, Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki each drove in two runs and the Colorado Rockies won their first series over San Francisco in two years, beating the Giants 5-0 on Sunday. Dexter Fowler tied a career high with four hits to help the Rockies take three of four from the reigning World Series champions. Jordan Pacheco also drove in a run as Colorado captured its first series against San Francisco since May 16-17, 2011, at Coors Field. Nicasio (4-1) shut down one of the top-hitting teams in baseball, striking out five and allowing only an intentional walk before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the sixth. It was the third time in nine starts the righty has thrown at least six innings.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORTS….
UNDATED (AP) – The AL Central-leading Cleveland Indians sit atop the division by two games over Detroit entering this afternoon’s game against the Seattle Mariners. The Indians are riding a four-game winning streak while the Mariners have lost three in a row.
Today it’s 2-2 Scott Kazmir on the mound for the Indians against the Mariners’ Hisashi Iwakuma (hih-SAH’-shee ih-wah-KOO’-mah), who is sporting a 5-1 mark. The torrid Indians have won 17 of their last 21.
There’s another day game in the American League in Toronto. The Tampa Bay Rays, coming off a three-game weekend sweep in Baltimore, take on the Blue Jays, who are in last place in the AL East. Today it’s Jake Odorizzi making his debut on the mound for the Rays in his third major league start. He’s taking the place of Rays’ ace David Price, who is ailing. The Jays are going with knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, who comes in with a 3-5 record.
Tonight in the AL, CC Sabathia (suh-BATH’-ee-uh) takes his 4-3 record to the mound for the New York Yankees, who open a series in Baltimore. Freddy Garcia, the 36-year-old with an 0-2 record and 5.51 ERA, is on the mound for the Orioles.
Texas is home to Oakland tonight. The A’s are coming off a three-game sweep of Kansas City despite scoring just eight runs all weekend.
Boston is riding a five-game winning streak after its 5-1 win in Minnesota yesterday. Tonight the Red Sox travel to the Windy City to take on the White Sox.
Kansas City’s Jeremy Guthrie takes his 5-1 record to the mound when they Royals visit Houston, the last-place club in the AL West.
The interleague game is in Atlanta. The NL East-leading Braves, who rallied with four runs in the eighth of their 5-2 win over the L.A. Dodgers yesterday, take on the Minnesota Twins, who are on a five-game losing streak.
In the National League, the Cincinnati Reds start the night two and a-half games back of St. Louis in the NL Central race. The Reds send out 1-0 Johnny Cueto (KWAY’-toh) against the New York Mets at Citi Field.
Philadelphia’s Cole Hamels hopes to turn around his disappointing season when the Phillies visit last-place Miami. The lanky left-hander, who’s won 31 games the last two seasons, takes his 1-6 record to the mound tonight against Alex Sanabia, who is 2-6.
The L.A. Dodgers send out ace Clayton Kershaw against the Brewers’ Yovani Gallardo (gy-YAR’-doh) tonight in Milwaukee. Kershaw is 4-2 while Gallardo is 3-3.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have 6-0 Patrick Corbin slated to go tonight when they visit Coors Field to play the Rockies.
On the West Coast, AL Central-leading St. Louis takes its major league-best record of 28-15 to San Diego. Shelby Miller of the Cards opposes Jason Marquis (mar-KEE’) of the Padres in a matchup of 5-2 records.
Zach Duke makes his first start of the season in place of ailing Ross Detwiler as the Washington Nationals open a three-game series at AT&T Park against the Giants. Ryan Vogelsong, off to a slow start with a 1-4 mark, is the Giants scheduled starter. The Giants should welcome coming home following a 1-5 road trip to Toronto and Colorado. San Francisco’s starters posted a 9.82 ERA on the trip.
MLB-PHILLIES
MRI’s for two key players
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz and first baseman Ryan Howard will have MRI exams today. Ruiz will miss tonight’s game at the Miami Marlins after straining his right hamstring Sunday. Howard didn’t play Sunday due to left knee soreness. He joined the team on the trip to Miami, but manager Charlie Manuel didn’t sound optimistic about Howard’s chances to play tonight.
MLB-RANGERS
Texas puts Kinsler on DL
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – The Texas Rangers have placed second baseman Ian Kinsler on the 15-day disabled list because of bruised ribs. Because Kinsler entered Friday night’s game as a pinch-runner, the DL move was retroactive to Saturday, when Kinsler didn’t play. The earliest he would be eligible to return is June 2.
Kinsler is hitting .302 with seven home runs, 20 RBIs and 24 runs scored in 40 games.
NBA PLAYOFFS
Off night in the NBA
SAN ANTONIO (AP) – It’s a dark night in the NBA playoffs tonight.
On Tuesday night, the San Antonio Spurs take a 1-0 lead into Game 2 of the NBA’s Western Conference finals after routing Memphis 105-93 onS unday. San Antonio shot 53 percent from the field and set a team playoff record by draining 14 three-pointers.
The Eastern Conference finals don’t start until Wednesday night. That’s when the Indiana Pacers, fresh off their six-game victory over the New York Knicks, visit Miami to take on the defending NBA champion Heat. Miami has lost just once in the postseason.
NHL PLAYOFFS
Red Wings have home ice tonight
UNDATED (AP) – The Detroit Red Wings can take a 2-1 series lead over Chicago when they drop the puck at Joe Louis Arena tonight in that NHL Western Conference semifinal.
The teams split two games in Chicago, each winning by a 2-1 score. The Red Wings took Saturday’s Game 3 with rookie Brendan Smith scoring the go-ahead goal.
Yesterday, Ottawa cut Pittsburgh’s lead to 2-1 with a double-overtime victory over the Penguins. Game 4 is Tuesday at Ottawa.
The Boston Bruins head to New York with a two-games-to-none lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Rangers host the next two games Tuesday and Thursday.
