
Sports in Shorts
Record viewing figures for Confederations Cup
Television audiences around the world have been watching the Confederations Cup in record numbers this month despite anti-government protests which has formed a violent background to the competition, FIFA said yesterday. With two matches to play, the tournament has also produced a record number of goals, mainly because of the participation of amateur Oceania champions Tahiti, while attendances are already the second highest since the competition began as a four-team tournament in 1992. (Reuters)
Scherzer improves to 12-0 as Tigers feast on Rays
Detroit pitcher Max Scherzer became the first man to begin a season 12-0 in 27 years as the Tigers took down the Tampa Bay Rays 6-3 on Friday. The 28-year-old becomes Major League Baseball’s first 12-0 starter since Roger Clemens opened the 1986 season with 14 straight wins for the Boston Red Sox. The win moved the Tigers to 43-35, maintaining their place at the top of the American League Central, while the Rays dropped to 41-39 to sit fourth in the tight AL East. Elsewhere, the Atlanta Braves won the battle of National League division leaders, shutting out the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-0. (Reuters)
Red Wings, Kindl agree to 4-year contract
The Detroit Red Wings and defenseman Jakub Kindl have agreed to terms of a four-year contract. The 26-year-old Kindl was a restricted free agent. He’ll make $2.4 million a year under the new contract. Kindl was drafted by the Red Wings in 2005 and made his NHL debut in 2009. The Sumperk, Czech Republic, native scored a career-high four goals for the Red Wings in the 2012-13 season and tied his career high of 13 points. Detroit was knocked out of playoffs this season by the Chicago Blackhawks, who went on to win the Stanley Cup. (AP)
South Africa reach Sevens quarterfinals without dropping a single point
South Africa cruised into the World Cup Sevens rugby quarterfinals without conceding a point and set up a showdown with two-time champion Fiji at Luzhniki Stadium yesterday. South Africa put 33 points on Japan and 41 on Scotland to sweep its pool. Meanwhile, Fiji lost to defending champion Wales 19-14 to reach the last eight only as one of the two best second-placed teams. Wales moved into a clash with world series champion New Zealand. (AP)
Luiten leads Irish Open by 1 shot after 3 rounds
Dutch golfer Joost Luiten will take a one-shot lead into the final round at the Irish Open today with a chance at his for a second victory this month. Luiten moved to 13 under par and one ahead of Pablo Larrazabal of Spain after both players shot bogey-free, 6-under 66s at Carton House yesterday. Luiten won the Lyoness Open in Austria this month for the second European Tour title of his seven-year pro career. (AP)
Wolves’ Kirilenko hits market as free agent
Andrei Kirilenko is opting out of the final year of a contract that would have paid him $10 million next season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, making him a free agent. Kirilenko made the decision on Saturday, the deadline that was written into the two-year, $20 million deal he signed last summer, a source told The Associated Press. In turning down the final year of his contract with the Timberwolves, Kirilenko is instead hoping to get a little extra security with a longer term deal when the market opens at 12:01 a.m. Eastern on July 1. The versatile forward is coming off a rejuvenating year in which he averaged 12.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals for the Wolves, his best season in the league since 2005-06. (AP)
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