Cycling
Matthews sprints past Sagan to win Suisse stage
SCHWARZENBACH, Switzerland – Michael Matthews of Australia edged Peter Sagan for victory in the Tour de Suisse fourth stage Tuesday, and Tom Dumoulin retained the lead.
Matthews added to stage wins at the Giro d’Italia and Paris-Nice this season at the end of a 120-mile route from Flims to Schwarzenbach.
The Orica-GreenEdge rider out-sprinted Slovakian Sagan, who won on Monday, in four hours, 36 minutes. Greg van Avermaet of Belgium was third.
Sagan is now second but with the same time as Dumoulin in the overall standings.
Golf
Chambers Bay to present many unique challenges
UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. – Jordan Spieth didn’t take long when asked for one word to describe a U.S. Open course where trains rumble loudly by, holes can change from one par to another, and players sometimes search for little white markings to see if they’re actually on a green.
“Inventive,” the Masters champion said.
That may not be the word some players will be using when play gets underway Thursday on a course unlike any other in Open history. Chambers Bay isn’t for the faint of heart, or those without some imagination in their game.
The links-style course built on an old gravel pit may end up the star of this Open, no matter who ends up conquering it. Chambers Bay – with its one tree and huge elevation changes on the edge of the water will look good on television, even if the players don’t.
Mickelson eager for chance to finish career slam
UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. – Always the sentimental favorite this time of year, Phil Mickelson arrived at Chambers Bay near Seattle still in search of that elusive U.S. Open championship.
The five-time major winner has been second six times, a record nearly as mystifying as it is motivating. But after a long period of changes to his physique and his swing, Mickelson is hopeful that this could be the year he completes the career grand slam.
There are reasons for hope.
He tied for third at the St. Jude Classic last week, shooting his best round of the season in the final round.
MLB
Report: Cardinals allegedly hacked Astros information
ST. LOUIS – Major League Baseball says it is cooperating with a federal investigation into an illegal breach of the Houston Astros’ internal database after a report that the St. Louis Cardinals were responsible for the hack.
The New York Times, citing unidentified law enforcement officials, reported Tuesday the FBI and Justice Department are investigating whether Cardinals’ front-office officials were behind the effort to steal player information.
MLB said the Astros’ “baseball operations database” was breached, but declined further comment until the federal investigation is completed.
The Cardinals and Astros both confirmed they are cooperating with the investigation but declined further comment.
NHL
Eyes were tuned into an exciting Stanley Cup Final
NEW YORK – This year’s Stanley Cup Final was the second most-watched on record.
The series won by the Chicago Blackhawks over the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games averaged nearly 5.6 million viewers on NBC and NBCSN. It trails only the six-game 2013 series between Chicago and the Boston Bruins, which averaged almost 5.8 million. NBC said Tuesday the audience was up 11 percent from the 5 million for last year’s five-game series between the Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers.
The records go back to 1994.
Associated Press
