Greinke, Dodgers end Padres’ home win streak

SAN DIEGO (AP) ― Zack Greinke doesn’t have fond memories of his last outing at Petco Park. His return went off without hitch.Greinke allowed one run in eight sharp innings, Adrian Gonzalez ended a wild Edinson Volquez’s no-hit bid with a homer in the sixth and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 6-1 Saturday night.In his first outing in San Diego since breaking his collarbone in a brawl with Carlos Quentin April 11, Greinke had a season-high eight strikeouts. He allowed four hits a

BaseballJune 23, 2013

Four in lead at Arkansas event

ROGERS, Arkansas (AP) ― Stacy Lewis gave her vocal gallery something to cheer about at the LPGA NW Arkansas Championship.Lewis made four straight birdies and eight overall to shoot a 6-under 65 on Saturday and join a group of four players atop the leaderboard at 10 under after the second round at Pinnacle Country Club.Lewis, the world’s No. 2 player, earned an unofficial win at the rain-shortened event as an amateur in 2007. She is the local favorite this week, having played collegiately at Arka

GolfJune 23, 2013

Li dumped out in Eastbourne by Vesnina

EASTBOURNE, England (AFP) ― China’s Li Na missed her chance for a semifinal spot at the ATP-WTA Eastbourne International on a muggy Thursday as the second seed lost to Russian Elena Vesnina 7-6 (7/4), 6-3.Vesnina, winner along with compatriot Ekaterina Makarova of the Roland Garros doubles title less than a fortnight ago, carried confidence from her grand slam trophy onto the slick grass at Devonshire park as she beat her first top 10 opponent in two years.Australian Open finalist Li was competi

More SportsJune 21, 2013

Els shoots 63, takes 1-shot lead in Germany

MUNICH (AP) ― Ernie Els took the lead in the first round of the BMW International Open on Thursday after an eagle and seven birdies steered him to a 9-under 63. The South African, who won the British Open in 2002 and 2012 and the U.S. Open in 1994 and 1997, almost had a second eagle at the last that would have equaled a course record. Still, he was content with a two-putt birdie that gave him a one-stroke lead. “It doesn’t really mean much until Sunday. But getting into the race, so to speak, ea

GolfJune 21, 2013

Spain crushes Tahiti 10-0 in Confederations Cup

Tahiti coach Eddy Etaeta isn't one to get distracted by small things, like being overwhelmed 10-0 by World Cup winner Spain on Thursday in the Confederations Cup.He's used to looking for the positive. He predicted Spain might score as many as 20 _ and they didn't. With that achievement, he's focused on another _ the World Cup. Tahiti has already been eliminated from qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.“But there's another one in 2018 and in 2022, so we have to be realistic and work to de

SoccerJune 21, 2013

Italy rallies to beat Japan 4-3 at Confed Cup

Italy rallied from a two-goal deficit to beat Japan and countryman Alberto Zaccheroni 4-3 Wednesday, earning  a spot in the Confederations Cup semifinals.First-half substitute Sebastian Giovinco scored the winner in the 86th minute of an entertaining match at the Arena Pernambuco, pounding home a cross from Claudio Marchisio.After a dismal start for the Azzurri that saw Japan score twice in the opening 33 minutes, Daniele De Rossi pulled one back with a header in the 41st, Japan defender Atsuto

SoccerJune 20, 2013

Neymar inspires Brazil to 2-0 win over Mexico

Neymar made the difference for Brazil again on Wednesday, scoring in the ninth minute and making one for Jo to give the hosts a 2-0 win over Mexico and virtually secure a spot in the semifinals of the Confederations Cup.The Brazilian striker scored his second goal of the tournament with a left-footed volley from just inside the penalty box after Mexican defenders failed to clear a cross, then slipped past two defenders at once to set up Jo for an easy goal in second-half injury time.``I'm happy

SoccerJune 20, 2013

IOC notes PyeongChang's 'good progress' toward 2018 Winter Games

South Korean resort town PyeongChang is well on its way to hosting a successful Winter Olympics in 2018, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said Wednesday.The IOC's Coordination Commission wrapped up its two-day visit to PyeongChang, about 180 kilometers east of Seoul, on Wednesday.The commission, led by Gunilla Lindberg, a member of the IOC Executive Board, reviewed PyeongChang's preparations for the 2018 Winter Games in areas such as venues, marketing and communications. This was the co

More SportsJune 19, 2013

Son ‘upset’ over failing to live up to words against Iran

Following South Korea’s loss to Iran in a World Cup qualifier, national team forward Son Heung-min said Wednesday he was mad at himself for having failed to live up to his words.South Korea was blanked by Iran 1-0 on Tuesday in the teams’ last qualification match for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.Despite the loss, South Korea still clinched one of the four automatic berths at the tournament and made it to the World Cup for the eighth consecutive time. Tempers flared between the continental r

SoccerJune 19, 2013

‘Yu-na Kids’ aim to continue star’s skating legacy

Life as one of the “Yu-na Kids” demands sacrifices few 16-year-olds are willing to make, but for budding South Korean starlets Kim Jin-seo and Kim Hae-jin the chance to learn from the “mother of figure skating” is worth every second of a childhood spent on skates.The first lady of South Korean sport, Kim Yu-na has single-handedly made figure skating popular in a country where 44 of its 45 medals at the Winter Olympics have come in short track and speed skating.Her gold medal-winning performance

More SportsJune 19, 2013