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)