Sports Briefs March 28, 2011
Martin Laird went from a shocking collapse to become an unlikely winner Sunday at Bay Hill in Orlando, Fla.
In the toughest final round on the PGA Tour this year, Laird rallied from a three-shot deficit with four holes to play with two birdies and two remarkable pars to close with a 3-over 75 and win the Arnold Palmer Invitational by one shot over hard-luck Steve Marino.
The 28-year-old Scot became the first European to win at Bay Hill in its 33-year history.
n Sandra Gal won the Kia Classic in Industry, Calif., to become the second German winner in LPGA Tour history, beating second-ranked Jiyai Shin with a 2-foot birdie putt on the final hole.
The 25-year-old Gal, a former University of Florida player, made the winning putt after Shin's 5-foot birdie attempt caught the right edge and spun out.
Preseason baseball
With Mariners ace Felix Hernandez facing minor leaguers rather than his division opponent, Michael Young had three hits and three RBIs, including a broken bat single in the 10th inning to lift the Texas Rangers to a 5-4 victory over Seattle in Peoria, Ariz.
The Rangers scored three runs on nine hits off Luke French, then added a fourth on Matt Treanor's solo home run in the sixth off reliever David Pauley to take a 4-3 lead.
Chone Figgins hit a two-run home run in the first inning off Colby Lewis to extend his spring training hitting streak to 11 games.
• Former Mariner Carlos Silva was released by the Chicago Cubs.
The move leaves the Cubs on the hook for Silva's $11.5 million salary this season.
The Cubs obtained Silva in a trade with Seattle for outfielder Milton Bradley on Dec. 18, 2009. Last season, Silva began 8-0 before finishing 10-6 with a 4.22 ERA.
College basketball
College Basketball Invitational organizers did Oregon coach Dana Altman no favors when they placed the Ducks (19-7) and Creighton (22-14) on opposite sides of the bracket.
The result is one compelling story line for the best-of-three championship series that starts tonight at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb.
Altman, who had 11 straight 20-win seasons and seven NCAA tournament appearances in 16 years at Creighton, is back to face the school he left last April to take the Oregon job.
Heat 125, Rockets 119: Dwyane Wade shook off a bruised tailbone and finished with 30 points and 11 rebounds in host Miami's win over Houston.
Celtics 85, Timberwolves 82: At Minneapolis, Paul Pierce had 23 points and Boston held on to beat Minnesota.
Grizzlies 111, Spurs 104: Tony Allen had 23 points and host Memphis sent San Antonio to its third straight loss.
Hawks 99, Cavaliers 83: Marvin Williams scored a season-high 31 points to lead visiting Atlanta over Cleveland.
Kings 114, 76ers 111, OT: Marcus Thornton scored 32 points to help visiting Sacramento over Philadelphia.
Warriors 114, Wizards 104: At Oakland, Calif., Monta Ellis had 37 points to lead Golden State past Washington.
Thunder 99, Trail Blazers 90: Russell Westbrook scored 28 points and host Oklahoma City beat Portland.
Lakers 102, Hornets 84: Kobe Bryant scored 30 points to help host Los Angeles past New Orleans.
Mavericks 91, Suns 83: Jason Kidd scored 16 points and visiting Dallas beat Phoenix.
Canucks 4, Blue Jackets 1: Chris Higgins had a two goals and an assist and visiting Vancouver beat Columbus.
Penguins 2, Panthers 1, SO: Marc-Andre Fleury made 37 saves and host Pittsburgh beat Florida.
Bruins 2, Flyers 1: Brad Marchand's late goal lifted visiting Boston over Philadelphia.
Thrashers 5, Senators 4, SO: Andrew Ladd scored the deciding shootout goal as host Atlanta beat Ottawa.
Tennis
Mardy Fish beat No. 17 seed Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-3 in the third round of the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Fla.
- The Associated Press