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Astros Can’t Recover From Rangers’ 5-Run First

Unfortunately for the Astros they came after a terrible first inning. Colby Lewis allowed four hits in eight-plus innings and drove in two runs, and the Rangers took a five-run lead in the first inning before coasting to a 6-1 win over Houston. Lyles (0-1) yielded nine hits and six runs — both season highs — in five innings in his third start. The 21-year-old, who has spent most of the season in Triple-A, walked three and struck out six. "First inning, I didn't have a clue where it was going," Lyles said. "I have nobody to blame but myself. They were my mistakes, and I didn't stick to giving up one run instead of five." Lewis (4-3) capped the Rangers' first-inning scoring with a bases-loaded, two-out single to center field to score two. The Rangers got

The Fifth Down: For Mark Sanchez, the Opposite of Coddling

Jack Dempsey/Associated PressIt’s the season to criticize Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez, and maybe it’s good practice for the real season.Greg Cosell, at the NFL Films blog, reviewed 2011 tapes of Cam Newton and Matthew Stafford. His conclusion: They were even better than he thought. He added this:Let me bring you back to 2009. As I was preparing for that year’s draft, I remember watching Stafford and then immediately putting in a tape of Mark Sanchez. The difference in the way they delivered the ball was unmistakable from film study. There were throws Stafford could make that Sanchez couldn’t, and more importantly, wouldn’t even attempt because he knew he couldn’t. That’s the element that is always overlooked by those who minimize arm strength: The confidence and willingness

Cards Give Up 3-Run HR to Van Slyke in 6-5 Loss

Pinch-hitter Scott Van Slyke, the son of former Cardinals outfielder Andy Van Slyke, connected for his first major league homer — a go-ahead, three-run shot in the seventh inning with his father watching from the stands — and the Dodgers rallied for a 6-5 victory Sunday night to complete a three-game sweep. "It's very tough when you've got a team where almost every regular player is hurt. But we have to play with what we've got and keep fighting," shortstop Rafael Furcal said after the Cardinals' NL Central lead shrank to a half-game over Cincinnati with their eighth loss in 10 games. "We have a good team and we know we can do it," Furcal added. "Right now, everybody's struggling, but we've got to be positive and keep working." The Dodgers have a major

Street League Skateboarding continues to grow

Rob Dyrdek continues to make changes to Street League Skateboarding, which will have finals broadcast Saturday night at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2.Nyjah Huston, Chaz Ortiz, Ryan Sheckler, Paul Rodriguez, Chris Cole, Shane O'Neill, Torey Pudwill and Sean Malto are among the key competitors in the final, which will be held in Kansas City, Mo.Key changes to this year's format includes the addition of a 45-second timed run in the LINE section. It will provide each of the eight skaters in the final a chance to establish a flowing routine by way of linking multiple tricks together.Then there's the tech section that highlights the single best trick out of five attempts before culminating with the Big Section. It counts the top four scores of six trick attempts on the large down-rail feature."We

Sports

Ruth Jersey Sells for Record $4.4 Million

A baseball jersey worn by The Bambino sold for more than $4.4 million Sunday, a record for any item of sports memorabilia, according to the buyer and seller. SCP Auctions, based in California, said the circa 1920 New York Yankees uniform top is the earliest known jersey worn by Ruth and it fetched $4,415,658 at the company's April auction, which ended Sunday. That price broke the previous record of $4,338,500 set in 2010 for James Naismith's founding rules of basketball. … [Read More...]

I’ll Have Another Goes Straight to Belmont From Preakness

His Triple Crown bid depends on not only knowing but also relishing the track in order to win the grueling Belmont Stakes. Horsemen call it Big Sandy because of its wide sweeping turns and distinct footing. The last three horses to sweep horse racing’s holy grail — Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (’77) and Affirmed (’78) — haunted the Belmont oval like old souls. I’ll Have Another is based in California, but his trainer, Doug O’Neill, shipped the colt to Baltimore from … [Read More...]

Game 4: Coyotes 2, Kings 0: N.H.L. Playoffs — Coyotes Stop Kings and Trail, 3-1

Shane Doan scored that goal in the first period and added an even-strength goal in the second as the Coyotes avoided elimination with a 2-0 victory against the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals at Staples Center. The loss broke the Kings’ eight-game playoff winning streak, but they still lead the best-of-seven series, 3-1. Game 5 is Tuesday night in Glendale, Ariz. “We can grab some momentum from this game,” Phoenix Coach Dave Tippett … [Read More...]

N.B.A. Playoffs — Lakers on Brink, Frustrated by 4th-Quarter Woes

For eight taut minutes Saturday night, Bryant tried to sustain the Los Angeles Lakers through the sheer force of his jump shot. When that failed, he turned the aggression toward his teammates. “The other guys,” Bryant said quietly, pointedly, “got to be more aggressive. Simple as that.” It was a message meant to rally the troops, not demean them, but Bryant’s seething frustration — telegraphed after a 103-100 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder — sounded more like a … [Read More...]

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Pro-Football

The Fifth Down: For Mark Sanchez, the Opposite of Coddling

The Fifth Down: Jets and the 46 Defense

The Jets’ defensive line coach, Karl Dunbar, said earlier this week that he looked forward to using more of the 46 defense next season.Jenny Vrentas, The Star-Ledger:“We’re going to play a lot of that 46 defense,” Dunbar said with a grin. “You get in that 46 defense, you’re going to get a lot of one-on-one blocks, and … [Read More...]

Baseball

Astros Can’t Recover From Rangers’ 5-Run First

Enough Runners, Not Enough Runs for Yanks in Loss

Then suddenly, the game got away from him. The Cincinnati Reds rallied against the Yankees' ace in the seventh inning, turning a pair of solo home runs and three straight walks into a 5-2 victory Sunday that sent New York to its fifth loss in six games. "I felt like I let the team down. These guys are scratching and … [Read More...]

Global Sports

Cards Give Up 3-Run HR to Van Slyke in 6-5 Loss

Dufner Carries Lead Into Final Round of Nelson

Yet when play ended Saturday, Jason Dufner was the one alone at the top of the leaderboard for the second day in a row. Unfazed by more breezy conditions, Dufner shot a 1-under 69 for an 8-under 202 total. He had a one-stroke lead over Jason Day, J.J. Henry and Dicky Pride. "Similar conditions as (Friday), so … [Read More...]

Olympics

Street League Skateboarding continues to grow

Zmeskal reminisces after gymnastics hall of fame induction

She flips through every gymnastics magazine, looking for who's doing innovative new tricks, wondering how coaches come up with them and marveling at the sport she's come to love.About two decades ago, it was Zmeskal who was making the big breakthrough, becoming the first American woman to win the all-around world title in 1991. … [Read More...]