Sports Briefs May 14, 2012
Golf
Matt Kuchar avoided the big mistakes that slowed so many other contenders - starting with Kevin Na - and kept it out of the water on the TPC Sawgrass to eliminate the kind of drama he didn't need, closing with a 2-under 70 for a two-shot victory Sunday at The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Tiger Woods shot 40 on his front nine and rallied for a 73, and tied for 40th, the first time in his career that he has finished no better than 40th in three straight tournaments.
Along with the pressure of trying to win, Na had to put up with some heckling. Already considered a slow player, he struggles to take the club back without practice swings and waggles, and over the ball he could hear fans saying, "Pull the trigger" or "Hit it."
Baseball
• AMERICAN LEAGUE
Rays 9, Orioles 8: Elliot Johnson and Ben Zobrist homered, Carlos Pena ended an extended slump with two doubles and two RBIs to lead Tampa Bay at Baltimore.
Tigers 3, Athletics 1: Justin Verlander struck out eight in seven innings to help visiting Detroit beat Oakland.
Red Sox 12, Indians 1: Jarrod Saltalamacchia homered during a six-run seventh inning and drove in five runs to lead host Boston past Cleveland.
Royals 9, White Sox 1: Jeff Francoeur hit his first homer of the season and pinch-hitter Johnny Giavotella had a two-run double to lead Kansas City at Chicago.
Twins 4, Blue Jays 3: At Minneapolis, Scott Diamond pitched seven shutout inningsto help Minnesota beat Toronto.
Rangers 13, Angels 6: At Arlington, Texas, Nelson Cruz hit his third career grand slam, Josh Hamilton drove in three runs and Texas beat Los Angeles to hand Jered Weaver his first loss.
• NATIONAL LEAGUE
Nationals 6, Reds 5: Joey Votto hit a grand slam in the ninth for his third home run of the game, rallying host Cincinnati over Washington.
Marlins 8, Mets 4: Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-out grand slam in the ninth to help host Miami beat New York.
Giants 7, Diamondbacks 3: At Phoenix, Melky Cabrera singled four times to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, helping San Francisco beat Arizona.
Braves 7 Cardinals 4: Jason Heyward ended a 10-pitch at-bat with a bases-clearing double in the third, leading Atlanta at St. Louis.
Pirates 3, Astros 2, 12 inn.: Josh Harrison's 12th-inning single lifted host Pittsburgh over Houston.
Phillies 3, Padres 2: Cole Hamels threw seven innings of one-run ball to help host Philadelphia beat San Diego.
Cubs 8, Brewers 2: Ian Stewart hit a solo homer and scored the go-ahead run on an error to lead Chicago at Milwaukee.
Dodgers 11, Rockies 5: Bobby Abreu hit a three-run double and A.J. Ellis added a three-run homer and host Los Angeles beat Colorado.
Basketball
A person familiar with the voting says Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving has been chosen the NBA's Rookie of the Year and will receive the award today.
Hockey
Max Pacioretty of the Montreal Canadiens opened the scoring and the United States rolled to a 5-0 victory over defending champion Finland at the ice hockey world championships in Helsinki.
Tennis
Roger Federer rallied to beat Tomas Berdych 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 and win the Madrid Open for a third time.
Earlier, Serena Williams overpowered the top-ranked Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 6-3 to win the women's final.
Soccer
Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero scored during injury in a 3-2 victory in Manchester, England, that gave Manchester City its first English Premier League title since 1968. City finished ahead of crosstown rival Manchester United on goal difference.
Auto racing
Pastor Maldonado held off Fernando Alonso to win the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, Spain.
- The Associated Press