05282018 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

MONDAY, MAY 28, 2018

Miller-Uibo wins 400m in world-leading time

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net IT was another superb performance for quarter-miler Shaunae Miller-Uibo, but it wasn’t what high jumper Donald Thomas anticipated as they competed in their specialties against some of their top rivals in the Prefontaine Classic at the historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, on Saturday.

Fresh off her IAAF Diamond League series opener a week ago in Shanghai, China, Miller-Uibo got matched with one of her biggest rivals as she faced American Phyllis Francis for the first time since the two clashed at the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London, England.

This time, there was no mishap at the end as Miller-Uibo pulled away from Francis on the home

stretch and easily took the tape in a world leading time of 49.52 seconds, just off her personal best of 49.44.

Francis, in her season opener, had to settle for second in 50.81 in the race that featured all but two Americans.

While American Shakima Wimbley was third in 50.84, Jamaica’s Stephanie Ann McPherson was fifth in 51.01.

“I feel like I’ve gotten really strong this year and the race just felt really great,” said Miller-Uibo.

“There are some things to work on going forward but for this early in the season so I will take that.”

The race was also expected to feature American Allyson Felix in her season opener, but the 2016 Olympic silver medallist and World Championship bronze medallist, withdrew from the meet.

FAST TRACK: Shaunae Miller-Uibo competes in the 400m in the Prefontaine Classic at the Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, on Saturday.

Miller-Uibo, the slim 6-foot, 1-inch Olympic champion from Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, didn’t have any problems in the race.

She made up the stagger on the field on the back stretch and coming off the final curve with a slight lead over Francis, she accelerated into another gear and was untouchable to the line.

In the men’s high jump, Thomas had to settle for eighth place with a leap of 2.21 metres or 7-feet, 31/4-inches.

World champion Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar won with fewer knockdowns with 2.32m (7-71/4) over Danil Lysenko, who was one of the authorised neutral athletes competing out of Russia. Lysenko was the World Championships runner-up.

The next event will be the Golden Gala in Rome, Italy, on May 31.

Cavs advance to NBA Finals

‘THE TANK’ STOPS MENDOZA IN 3RD ROUND

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net SHERMAN ‘The Tank’ Williams wanted to make an impression when he returned home to compete in his first professional boxing show and the journeyman heavyweight didn’t disappoint the fans who showed up at the A Social Affair and Convention Centre in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

In the main event on Saturday night, Williams needed just a round to get warmed up before he unleashed his conch punch on Epifanio ‘Diamante’ Mendoza to stop the Colombian in the third round. With the win, Williams improved his winloss-draw record to 40-15-2.

Mendoza, 43, dropped to 43-27-1.

In the undercard, Amron Sands, a Bahamian now fighting out of Orlando, Florida, went toe to toe with veteran Jerry ‘Big Daddy’ Butler in a keenly contested Bahamas heavyweight bout showdown. And he came out with a decision.

Johnathan Pierre won by disqualification over Anthony ‘Psycho’ Wood, who was warned too many times for holding. American Chris Vendola won over Cuban Yendris Valdez after he suffered a fractured hand and Tyrone Oliver won a second round TKO over Grand Bahamian

SEE PAGE 16

TEMPLE CHRISTIAN SUNS ARE NATIONAL TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONS

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

CLEVELAND Cavaliers forward LeBron James celebrates as his team pulls away from the Boston Celtics near the end of the second half in Game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals last night in Boston.

SEE THE FULL STORY ON PAGE 18 (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Jonquel Jones playing reserve role for the Sun

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net WNBA All-Star Jonquel Jones has played a reserve role early

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in the season thus far as she continues to acclimate herself to the Connecticut Sun after missing training camp and the preseason.

Jones has averaged 10 points and 5.3 rebounds per game through three contests while shooting 63 per cent from the field, 75 per cent from three-point range as the Sun have opened 3-0 on the year.

She finished with six points, five rebounds and two assists on 2-3 shooting from the field in just 15 minutes of an 86-77 win over the Indiana Fever on Saturday night.

Eight different Sun players scored and Connecticut used 20 assists to score on their 32 made field goals.

The Sun are 3-0 to start the year for the first time since 2012.

Jones had her best game of the season thus far last Thursday night when she finished with 17 points on 7-9 shooting (2-2 from three point range), six rebounds, and three

assists in a 102-94 win During the preseaover the Los Angeles son, Sun head coach Sparks.

Curt Miller said the They became the combination of Jones first team in WNBA – the league’s reigning history to open the Most Improved Player season with consecuand Second Team Alltive 100-point games.

WNBA selection, and The Sun begin a Chiney Ogwumike, four-game road trip the 2014 Rookie of the at Chicago on June Year, could take the 1. The team returns Sun to the next level. home on June 9 to Alongside Ogwuface the defending mike, Jones averaged JONQUEL JONES champions Minne6.8 points and 3.7 sota Lynx. rebounds per game as Despite the late arrival at camp, a rookie.

Jones showed flashes of brilliance Last season, with Ogwumike despite limited minutes. sidelined with an injury, Jones She finished with seven points, developed into one of the league’s five rebounds, three steals, two rising stars. blocked shots in the Sun’s 101-65 Expectations will be even higher win over the Las Vegas Aces last for both Jones and her team Sunday in the season opener after headed into the 2018-19 season. joining the team less than 24 hours SEE PAGE 16 prior to tipoff.

FOR the third consecutive year, the Temple Christian Suns emerged as the champions of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s annual Frank ‘Pancho’ Rahming National Primary School Track and Field Championships at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium.

The three-day meet, featuring more than 60 schools from around the Bahamas, concluded on Friday with the Suns accumulating a total of 271 points to out-distance their nearest rivals, North Andros High Seminoles, who had 193 for second place. The Queen’s College Comets got third with 163.

“The competition was more competitive this year,” said Temple Christian’s head coach Sherry Francis. “There were more schools participating. It’s a great meet, but I feel we need one more day to be added to the schedule.

Friday is finals for all events and the workload is too heavy for the kids, 100m, 200m, 300m, 800m and 4 x 400m finals all back-toback. Some of the final can be on another day.”

Despite her observation, the competition was still keenly contested with the schools finishing in the following:

SEE PAGE 16

PAGE 16, Monday, May 28, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

CHAMPIONS: For the third consecutive year, the Temple Christian Suns emerged as the champions of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s annual Frank ‘Pancho’ Rahming National Primary School Track and Field Championships, held at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium.

TEMPLE CHRISTIAN SUNS ARE NATIONAL PRIMARY TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONS FROM PAGE 15

Central Abaco Primary with 144; Martin Town Primary with 105; Cleveland Eneas Primary with 97; Freeport Primary School with 87; South Eleuthera with 76; C W Sawyer Primary with 75 and Sunland Baptist Academy with 72; Walter Parker Primary with 68; Uriah McPhee Primary with 66; Hugh Campbell Primary with 62; Carlton E Francis Primary with 56; Central & Northern Eleuthera with 55; Freeport Gospel Primary with 48; St. Anne’s School with 48; C W Saunders with 34; Centerville Primary School with 32; West Grand Bahama with 31; Long Island Primary with 30; Kingsway Academy with 30; Excelsior Elementary with 29; St. John’s College with 26; Acellus Academy with 25; Stephen Dillet Primary with 24; TG Glover Primary School with 24; Bartlette Hill Primary School with 23; Tabernacle Baptist Academy with 19; The Meridian School with 17; Bimini Primary with 17; Inagua Primary Schools with 16; South Andros & Mangrove Cay with 15; Claridge Primary with 35; Jordan Prince Williams with 12 . 50; Bishop Michael Eldon with 12 37; Coopers Town Primary with 11; Eva Hilton with 11; East End District with 9; Agape Christian School with 8; James A Pinder Primary with 6; Crossing Rocks South Abaco with 6; Exuma District with 6; Freeport Bible Academy with 5; Hillcrest Academy with 4; United Estates with 4 and Genesis Academy with 4.

Meet director Mike Sands said they will take the recommendation into consideration, but he said it still turned out to be a great event with the ministry receiving some very positive feedback from the schools from Bimini to Inagua about how well organised the meet went.

“It was one of the more successful. We are getting great reviews from the schools and those who came for the first time have indicated that they will be coming back,” Sands said. “The accommodation was fantastic and everything went extremely well. We had some hiccups of this event, but it went very well and BACO did a very good job of helping the athletes with the zones in the relay.”

While the athletes were fed breakfast, Sands said the highlight for the Family Island athletes was the fact that they got pizza on Thursday and KFC on Friday.

“We joked around that we couldn’t find an empty box around. Everybody had a great time and we were very pleased with the end results.”

As for the competition, Sands said it was keen and some schools from the Family Islands were tied in the final point standings. But to have 1,500 kids competing in this meet means that the future is good for track and field. We just have to find a way to keep these athletes interested. So I’m really excited about what I saw at the three day meet.”

FROM PAGE 15

TEMPLE Christian Suns youngsters receive their medals.

Jonquel Jones playing reserve role for Sun FROM PAGE 15 “[This season] I think I’m being more confident in everything I do on the basketball court, just trusting in my teammates more, our chemistry is one of the best in

‘THE TANK’ STOPS MENDOZA IN 3RD ROUND

the league I think and I think just maintaining consistency. I think just understanding what we are as a team, who we are, our identity, always playing with a chip on our shoulder, whether it’s last year when people didn’t expect us to

do anything or it’s this year where we have a target on our backs, so I think having that mindset is going to be a difference maker this season.”

WNBA.com posed questions to the league’s general managers to

learn what the people who make the decisions think on a variety of topics. Jones was voted as the league’s top rebounder and received a whopping 58 per cent on the poll ahead of Tina Charles at 25 per cent.

Justin Sawyer, who both were making their pro debut. Williams, 45, said the show was exciting and he was glad that he didn’t disappoint the fans.

“Mendoza came out swinging. He came out tough with some dirty tactics,” Williams recalled.

“The conch punch was able to prevail in the second round and I figured I had to get him out early and not make it a long night.”

If there was any consolation, Williams said it was in the fact that he was inspired competing at home. “That gave me a little bit of incentive to perform very well,” he stated. “I put the pressure on my opponent and got him out in impressive fashion. It was more than four decades that they had a professional fight in Grand Bahama, so I was more than happy to be a part of making history with Bahamian Suns, the promotional group for the show.

“The crowd was very good. It was a large crowd.

The production was awesome, the arena was picture perfect. We had a Bahamian band playing all night, so it was definitely a national pride event. The people who showed up got a treat. The whole card was very entertaining.”

In moving forward, Williams said despite the fact that they had about 300 people in the stands, they gave him enough incentive to want to come back and put on another show.

He said he hopes to build on the crowd, even though it costs the promoters several thousand dollars more to stage in Grand Bahama as opposed to New Providence.

“New Providence always has everything, so we wanted to stir up Grand Bahama and Freeport in particular,” Williams said.

“So this event was able to create revenue and jobs. We employed over 60 people for this event and brought in all of the commissioners from New Providence.

“We were able to generate some revenue for Freeport with people coming in on the cruise ship and staying in the Pelican Bay and Lucaya, so we hit our projected goals. We just wanted a little more people to come out. But we need to become more nationalistic and support more things that are Bahamian.”

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, May 28, 2018, PAGE 17

Davis Cup: Team Bahamas all set to begin 1st round

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas team of Baker Newman, Philip Major Jr, Jody Turnquest and captain Marvin Rolle are all set to begin play in the first round of the American Zone III Davis Cup tie in Costa Rica.

The team will open up against Honduras today with Major Jr playing in the opening singles, followed by Newman.

The Honduras team is made up of Jaime Bendeck, Alejandro Obando, Gabriel Zuniga Mendoza and captained by Keny Turcios.

Rolle, however, said it’s uncertain who will play the doubles match. He noted that there’s been a lot of rain and so there’s a possibility that they may have to play some matches indoors.

“The guys are ready. The facility is nice. They are treating us nice,” he said.

Since 2001, 35-year-old Rolle has been a member of Team Bahamas. He’s played in 48 ties and has compiled a 14-15 winloss record in singles and 22-16 in doubles. He’s been at the helm as the team captain for the past few years and is convinced that with Newman as their top seed, the team has a chance to get out of zone III and into zone II for 2019.

Newman, 23, said he’s ready for his second tie as the top seed. He first played in 2016, compiling a 4-0 record in singles and 1-0 in doubles.

BAHAMAS Davis Cup team of captain Marvin Rolle, Philip Major Jr, Baker Newman and Jody Turnquest pose above in Costa Rica.

“Honduras, you better watch out,” he said. “I am sleeping with one eye open. We’re coming for you. Get ready.”

Major Jr, 22, said if it’s a battle, he will be ready for it.

This will be his third year playing on the team and in the three ties he’s seen action, he’s 0-3 in singles and 1-1 in doubles. “I’m sure that we are all very happy and proud to represent our country and I know that we all will put our best foot forward,” he said. “Hopefully all goes

well tomorrow (today) as we go 2-for-2.”

Turnquest, the newest member of the team at age 24, said he’s just excited to be in Costa Rica. “We have Honduras tomorrow (today),” he stressed.

“Looking forward to it.”

The Bahamas is placed in Pool B with Honduras, Jamaica, Bermuda and Antigua and Barbuda. The Bahamas will play Antigua on Tuesday, have Wednesday off, play Jamaica on Thursday and Bermuda Friday.

They will need to finish in the top two in order to advance to playoffs against the top two teams out of Pool A, comprising of Cuba, Panama, Costa Rica and Paraguay.

The winner of Pool A will play-off against the runner-up of Pool B and the winner of Pool B will play-off against the runner-up of Pool A to determine which two nations will advance to Americas Zone Group II in 2019. The final two teams will be promoted.

Venus Williams: 2 1st-round Slam exits in row for 1st time

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer PARIS (AP) — Venus Williams has lost her opening match at two consecutive Grand Slam tournaments for the first time in her illustrious career.

Her coach, David Witt, thinks the quick exit at the French Open yesterday was because Williams did not do a good enough job of switching tactics on the red clay that has never been her best surface.

Williams bowed out in the first round in her 21st appearance at Roland Garros, beaten 6-4, 7-5 by 85th-ranked Wang Qiang of China. That follows an equally abrupt exit for the 37-year-old American at the Australian Open in January.

“The girl’s weapon is her forehand, but Venus kept hitting second serves to her forehand. You’ve got to realize what’s going on out there when you’re losing.

And you’ve got to change.

She didn’t change,” Witt said after watching Williams’ match Sunday from a guest box behind one of the baselines at Court Suzanne Lenglen.

The ninth-seeded Williams offered mostly

VENUS WILLIAMS terse answers in her news conference.

“I mean,” she said, “nobody plans on this.”

As for whether there were things she thought she could have tried to do differently Sunday, she replied: “Yeah, I think ‘differently’ is win the point.”

She actually built a 3-0 lead in the second set, then frittered that away. Over and over, she would shank a shot — backhands, more than anything — then look over in Witt’s direction with a hand on her hip.

Her often-terrific serve was not on target, either, with only 56 percent of first serves landing in and four double-faults.

Over the course of 100 minutes on a muggy

afternoon, Williams offered up 12 break points, four of which Wang converted.

Williams made 16 of the match’s first 25 unforced groundstroke errors. She finished with 35 unforced errors in all, 21 more than Wang.

“I just wanted to play no mistakes — not too many mistakes — and if I get a chance (at a winner), I just go for it,” said Wang, who entered the day with only six victories in 20 previous Grand Slam matches.

Those 14 losses include one apiece against Williams at the French Open and Wimbledon in 2017.

Those times, Wang said, she was “a little bit nervous,” but on Sunday, “I think: ‘I have nothing to lose.’”

She has never been past the second round at a major. Williams, in contrast, owns seven Grand Slam singles championships and has been the runner-up nine times, including a loss to her younger sister, Serena, in the 2002 French Open final.

The siblings are entered in doubles in Paris, where Serena will be participating in a major in singles for the first time since January 2017, returning after giving birth to a daughter.

SEYMOUR POSTS PAIR OF MULTIPLE HIT GAMES

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

ANFERNEE Seymour continues to improve his numbers on the season and thrive in his second stint with the Jupiter Hammerheads.

Seymour posted a pair of multiple hit games this weekend in the Hammerheads series against the Brandenton Marauders.

The Hammerheads opened with a 12-3 loss, but Seymour hit 3-5 with a double, a stolen base and a run scored from the leadoff spot.

In game two, Seymour went 2-4, including his second home run since he joined the club. His two home runs this season represent a career high in his four year major league career. With the game two win over the Mauraders,

the Hammerheads became the first team in the Florida State League and one of only four teams in Minor League baseball thus far this season.

After being released by the Atlanta Braves (Florida Fire Frogs) on May 6, Seymour was signed by the Miami Marlins on May 10 and was subsequently assigned to the Jupiter Hammerheads.

In 11 games with the club, Seymour is hitting .341 with an .901 OPS and .545 slugging percentage.

Seymour recorded hits in nine of his 11 games thus far. He struggled early this season and was batting just .195/.242/.287 with 28 strikeouts in 87 at bats with the Fire Frogs this season prior to his release.

In his Hammerheads debut, Seymour opened 2-4 with a two-run home run in an 8-4 loss to Lucius Fox

and the Charlotte Stone Crabs.

Seymour was promoted to Class-A advanced and joined the Fire Frogs last May. Prior to the promotion, Seymour was enjoying his most successful season at the plate in his minor league career with the Rome Braves.

Through 28 games with the Braves in the South Atlantic League, Seymour hit .287 with six RBI, an OBP of .345 and snagged eight stolen bases in 11 tries.

With the Fire Frogs, Seymour appeared in 78 games in the Florida State League.

He hit .287 with 17 RBI, an OBP of .346, OPS of .711 scored 42 runs and stole 17 bases.

Despite playing in just 78 of the team’s 118 games, he ranked fourth on the team in hits (84), fourth in triples and second in stolen bases.

BLTA: CONDOLENCES TO FAMILY OF ROBERT SMITH

By BRENT STUBBS Senior S[ports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association has expressed its condolences to the family of the late Robert Smith, a former player who was killed in his home on Lobster Avenue off Blue Hill Road last Thursday.

While BLTA president Darnette Weir said his passing has hit hard within their sport fraternity, Davis Cup captain Marvin Rolle said there’s so much he can say about his former friend off the court and rival on the court.

“He was a hard worker, a go getter.

There was never nothing he felt he couldn’t do in his eyes,” said Rolle, who is currently in Costa Rica leading the Bahamas’ team of Baker Newman, Philip Major Jr and Jody Turnquest in action this week in the first round of the Davis Cup tie.

“He always had the talent to do anything and he always had your back. If you needed help with anything, any hour of the day, any hour of the night, he was there. He might have been late, but he was there.”

Rolle said a lot of people may have known him from playing tennis, but he admitted that Smith was very versatile.

“He was talented in tennis, very talented in cycling, very talented in track and field. It’s sad to see him go, but he will never be forgotten. Robert Smith.

I know a lot of people are saddened by his tragic death, but he didn’t deserve that. Robert. He was special to a lot of people. He will be missed. Rest in peace.”

Smith, 31, was shot at his home on Lobster Street. He was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Weir said Thursday was a sad day for the BLTA. “I extend our deepest condolences on the death of Robert. We are deeply saddened by his death,” Weir said.

“Robert played as a junior for many years and for the past several years, he participated in the Giorgio Baldacci for the past three years. He has made his contribution as a player, even in the Gym Tennis Club Tournament.

“We extend our deepest sympathy to the Smith family on his passing.”

Smith is the son of Robert ‘Bob’ Smith, a well-known basketball referee.

PAGE 18, Monday, May 28, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

LeBron’s 35 help Cavaliers beat Celtics 87-79, reach NBA Finals

By JIMMY GOLEN AP Sports Writer BOSTON (AP) — With another Game 7 victory at stake, LeBron James would not miss. He would not sit out. And he would not be denied an eighth straight trip to the NBA Finals.

The four-time league MVP scored 35 points with 15 rebounds and nine assists last night, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to an 87-79 win over the Celtics and eliminating Boston from the Eastern Conference finals in the decisive seventh game.

In the first close game of the series — and the lowest-scoring — James played all 48 minutes and had 12 of his points in the fourth quarter for his sixth straight Game 7 win.

The NBA Finals begin Thursday at either Houston or Golden State. The Rockets host the seventh game of the West finals tonight.

Jayson Tatum scored 24 for Boston, which was looking to return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010. Al Horford scored 17 points and Marcus Morris added 14 with 12 rebounds for the Celtics, who led 72-71 with six minutes remaining before the Cavaliers scored 15 of the next 17 points to pull away.

James and Horford embraced after the buzzer, then the Cavaliers donned NBA Finals hats and Eastern conference championship shirts before shuffling off the court to receive their trophy.

It’s not the one they want.

James had to do it without Kevin Love — Cleveland’s only other all-star — who sustained a concussion in Game 6 and was replaced in the lineup by Jeff Green. Making his first start since the first-round opener against Indiana, Green scored 19 points and added eight rebounds — the star of James’ starless supporting cast.

The Celtics have had more time to get used to their injuries: Gordon Hayward has been out since the first game of the season, and Kyrie Irving has been sidelined since March. With the rookie Tatum and second-year Jaylen Brown, Boston established itself as the team of the future in the East.

But the present still belongs to James.

And, for now, that means Cleveland, too.

TIP-INS Cavaliers: Shot just 2 of 17 from 3-point range in the first half. They made three of their first 22 shots before James and Green connected on back-to-back attempts midway through the third quarter.

Celtics: Paul Pierce, whose number was retired by the Celtics this season, cheered the team on from courtside. Rapper 21 Savage was also at the game. Boston was 7 for 39 from 3-point range, with Terry Rozier missing all 10 of his attempts.

CLEVELAND Cavaliers forward LeBron James, right, celebrates a basket during the second half in Game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals last night against the Boston Celtics.

(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

TANAKA PITCHES YANKEES PAST ANGELS 3-1 NEW YORK (AP) — Masahiro Tanaka pitched six sharp innings and struck out Japanese countryman Shohei Ohtani twice as the New York Yankees defeated the Los Angeles Angels 3-1 Sunday.

Brett Gardner had three hits for New York, which won five of six against the Angels this season.

Although Ohtani was pushed back from Sunday’s scheduled start due to what the Angels called “workload management,” Tanaka (6-2) held up his end up of the highly anticipated pitchers’ duel that never materialized. Tanaka struck out eight and allowed just Andrelton Simmons’ sixthinning home run in his longest outing in nearly a month.

Pitching on his 30th birthday, Angels right-hander Garrett Richards (4-4) allowed three runs over 2 1/3 innings and matched a season high with five walks.

Aroldis Chapman walked Ohtani to begin the ninth, but struck out a pair to earn his 10th save in 11 chances.

BRAVES 7, RED SOX 1 BOSTON (AP) — Prized rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. took a high-flying tumble while beating out an infield hit, exiting Atlanta’s win with knee and lower back pain.

Acuna waved his arms “safe” as he crossed first base before his left foot gave out in the seventh inning, and he went sprawling. He walked off the field slowly, passing on a wheel chair that was rolled out for him.

Mike Foltynewicz (4-3) took a no-hit bid into the sixth and went seven innings. Tyler Flowers hit a three-run homer off Red Sox ace Chris Sale (5-2), salvaging the finale of a three-game interleague series.

INDIANS, 10, ASTROS 9 14 INNINGS CLEVELAND (AP) — Rookie Greg Allen homered on Brad Peacock’s first pitch in the 14th inning, lifting Cleveland to a wild win.

Allen’s first homer of the season landed in the seats in right and triggered a celebration for the Indians, who rallied twice to overcome another impressive performance for Jose Altuve.

Cleveland scored five runs in the ninth. Michael

Brantley’s two-out RBI single off Hector Rondon tied it at 8.

Evan Gattis’ two-out homer off Dan Otero (1-1) gave Houston a 9-8 lead in the 13th, but Yonder Alonso responded with a leadoff drive against Collin McHugh in the bottom half.

Peacock (1-2) got the loss on the only pitch he threw.

Altuve had four hits and drove in two runs. The reigning AL MVP had a streak of 10 consecutive hits, breaking his own club record, before he lined out to center in the ninth.

NATIONALS 5, MARLINS 2 MIAMI (AP) — Bryce Harper hit his NL-leading 16th homer, and Washington completed a three-game sweep by beating Miami for the 11th time in a row.

The Nationals matched the longest winning streak in franchise history against one team. It’s the Marlins’ longest losing streak against an opponent since 1999.

Anthony Rendon hit his fifth home run for the Nationals, who lead the league in homers.

Stephen Strasburg (6-4) pitched five shutout innings and contributed his first RBI of the season, but departed after throwing 103 pitches. Brandon Kintzler pitched around a single in the ninth for his second save.

Justin Bour hit his 10th homer for Miami, and Elieser Hernandez (0-2) allowed two runs in five innings in his third career start.

MARINERS 3, TWINS 1 SEATTLE (AP) — Ryon Healy doubled home two runs in the eighth inning and Alex Colome earned a save in his first outing for the Mariners, who swept the three-game series and have won eight of their last nine.

Mike Leake (5-3) allowed one run in eight innings for the win. He outpitched Jose Berrios (5-5), who gave up two runs in 7 1/3 innings.

Colome pitched a perfect inning for his 12th save of the season. He arrived in Seattle on Saturday night, a day after the Mariners got him and outfielder Denard Span in a trade with Tampa Bay. Colome will pitch the eighth inning most of the time for Seattle, but closer Edwin Diaz had the day off after working in four of the previous five games.

CARDINALS 6, PIRATES 4 PITTSBURGH (AP) — Harrison Bader’s pinch-hit bloop single off Pittsburgh closer Felipe Vazquez keyed a late rally for St. Louis.

The Cardinals won for just the fourth time in 19 games when trailing after seven innings by pouncing on Pittsburgh’s bullpen. St. Louis loaded the bases off Michael Feliz (0-2) and the Pirates brought in Vazquez with one out in the eighth.

Bader fought off a 99 mph fastball from Vazquez and dumped it into shallow right field to tie the game.

Vazquez walked Yairo Munoz on four pitches to hand St. Louis the lead and the Cardinals added another on a fielder’s choice RBI by Carson Kelly.

Vazquez has blown three straight save opportunities

four-run seventh inning for surging Milwaukee.

Jesus Aguilar added a three-run homer and four RBIs for the NL Central leaders. The Brewers won their fifth straight series by taking three of four games from the struggling Mets.

Boone Logan (1-0) got the win despite giving up Asdrubal Cabrera’s solo homer in the seventh.

The Brewers teed off on three relievers in the decisive seventh. Jerry Blevins (1-1) got the loss.

Struggling Milwaukee closer Corey Knebel gave up a solo homer to Devin Mesoraco before finishing for his fourth save.

DODGERS 6, PADRES 1 LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rookie Walker Buehler tied a career high with eight strikeouts, Max Muncy and

two runs and five hits in two innings. The Padres went exclusively with their bullpen in the series finale.

BLUE JAYS 5, PHILLIES 3 PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Devon Travis and Dwight Smith Jr. each hit a two-run double for Toronto, and J.A. Happ pitched neatly into the seventh inning.

Curtis Granderson added a solo homer to help the Blue Jays take two of three in the interleague series.

Happ (7-3) allowed three runs — two earned — and six hits, striking out eight in 6 2/3 innings against his former team.

Phillies starter Nick Pivetta (4-3) gave up two runs in five innings in his first career start against the team he grew up rooting for in Victoria, British Columbia.

RAYS 8, ORIOLES 3 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Relievers Vidal Nuno and Austin Pruitt combined to throw 8 2/3 scoreless innings, leading Tampa Bay to the win.

Nuno (1-0) and Pruitt followed Sergio Romo, who was charged with three runs in one-third of an inning as the Rays went with an unconventional pitching lineup for the third consecutive day.

Pruitt entered in the fourth and limited Baltimore to three hits over 5 2/3 innings to get his first save.

Brad Miller had three RBIs for Tampa Bay, and Carlos Gomez homered in the seventh. Baltimore’s Kevin Gausman (3-4) was tagged for seven runs in 2 2/3 innings.

YANKEES starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, left, pitches to Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani during the first inning of a baseball game yesterday at Yankee Stadium in New York. (AP) for the Pirates, who have dropped seven of nine.

Sam Tuivailala (1-0) picked up the win with a scoreless seventh. Bud Norris worked a perfect ninth for his 11th save.

BREWERS 8, METS 7 MILWAUKEE (AP) — Domingo Santana’s tworun double highlighted a

Cody Bellinger homered, and the Dodgers earned their eighth victory in 10 games.

Buehler (3-1) allowed one run in seven innings.

Muncy hit a towering tworun homer in the eighth off Tyler Webb, and Bellinger tacked on a two-run drive with two out.

San Diego right-hander Adam Cimber (2-2) allowed

ATHLETICS 2, DIAMONDBACKS 1 OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Matt Chapman hit a tiebreaking RBI single off Zack Greinke with two out in the sixth inning, lifting the Athletics to the win.

Jonathan Lucroy homered for the first time this season and rookie Frankie Montas (1-0) pitched three-hit ball over six innings in his first start with Oakland.

The A’s went ahead to stay by taking advantage of some control problems for Greinke (3-4) after he struck out the first two batters in the sixth. Matt Olson and Chad Pinder walked before Chapman sent a sharp liner into left field.

Blake Treinen pitched the ninth for his 12th save.

ROYALS 5, RANGERS 3 ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jason Hammel struck out 10, Drew Butera and Salvador Perez homered, and Kansas City held on for the win.

Hammel (2-5) pitched 5 1/3 shutout innings. He gave up four hits, including three doubles, and two walks.

Perez and Butera each homered off Cole Hamels (3-5), who allowed five runs in 6 1/3 innings with a season-low two strikeouts.

Hamels didn’t give up more than two earned runs in any of his five previous starts.

Kelvin Herrera pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his 11th save.

Joey Gallo hit a two-run homer for Texas, and Robinson Chirinos belted a solo drive.

ROCKIES 8, REDS 2 DENVER (AP) — Carlos Gonzalez had a season-high four hits for Colorado, including a third-deck homer off Matt Harvey.

It was Gonzalez’s first four-hit game since Sept.

12, 2016, at Arizona.

David Dahl, Nolan Arenado and Ian Desmond also homered for the Rockies, who earned their second home series win of the season. German Marquez (4-5) pitched seven innings of one-run ball in his second straight victory.

Harvey (1-3) gave up four runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings in his first loss with Cincinnati.

TIGERS 3, WHITE SOX 2 DETROIT (AP) — Blaine Hardy pitched seven strong innings to help Detroit get the win.

Hardy allowed one run and three hits, struck out six and walked one in his third start of the season. The 31-year-old left-hander is helping out in the rotation while Jordan Zimmermann is out with a shoulder issue.

Joe Jimenez struck out the side on 12 pitches in the eighth, and Shane Greene allowed Jose Rondon’s homer in the ninth before finishing for his 13th save.

The last-place White Sox lost for the third time in four games.

James Shields (1-5) gave up three runs and five hits in seven innings.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, May 28, 2018, PAGE 19

REAL Madrid players celebrate with the trophy on Saturday after winning the Champions League Final soccer match against Liverpool at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine.

(AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

REAL MADRID SEALS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 3-PEAT

By ROB HARRIS AP Global Soccer Writer KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — With his back to goal but eyes on the incoming cross, Gareth Bale connected with the ball while leaping in the air and sent a scissor-kick arcing into the top of the net.

Fusing athleticism and technique, it was a mesmerising sight to behold from the Real Madrid forward.

Rarely has there been a finer goal in a European final and Bale followed it up with another to seal Madrid’s third successive Champions League title in a 3-1 victory over Liverpool on Saturday. Yet with blunders, injuries and intrigue unfolding throughout the night in Kiev’s Olympic Stadium, the wonder-goal just enriched this engrossing climax to the European club season and set the tone for weeks of uncertainty.

A weeping Mohamed Salah was forced off in the first half with a shoulder injury that foiled Liverpool’s quest for a first continental success in 13 years and left the World Cup hopes of the “Egyptian King” in jeopardy.

Tears also streamed down Loris Karius’ face after the Liverpool goalkeeper’s mistakes gifted two goals in the biggest match of his career.

It might also be his last for Liverpool, which was denied a sixth European title by the aristocrats of the continent.

When all they should have been thinking about is celebrating, both Bale and teammate Cristiano Ronaldo also cast doubts on their Madrid careers.

But while Zinedine Zidane was adamant about the need to keep hold of five-time world player of the year Ronaldo, the Madrid coach seemed far less concerned about the future of the player whose two goals just delivered the club’s record-extending 13th European title.

Bale only came on in the second half. The impact was explosive, scoring the bicycle kick in the 64th minute.

Five years into his Madrid career, the 28-year-old Bale wants to be more than a super-sub. “I need to be playing week in, week out and that hasn’t happened this season for one reason or another,” Bale said after lifting the European Cup for a fourth time with Madrid.

“I need to sit down in the summer and discuss it with my agent.”

Will Bale get assurances over a place in the starting XI? “It might be complicated,” Zidane said. “But

everybody looks out for themselves and takes care of their own thing, and I understand that.”

Zidane doesn’t understand why Ronaldo raised fresh doubts over his commitment to the club.

“He must stay,” Zidane said. “He will stay with us.”

While Ronaldo became the first five-time winner in the post-1993 Champions League era, this was a comparatively muted performance in a final for a player who has contributed decisive goals in the three finals Madrid had contested in the previous four seasons.

After collecting a shot six minutes into the second half, Karius rolled the ball out too casually, neglecting the presence of Benzema who stuck out his right foot and dispatched the ball into an empty net.

The immediate impact of Karius’ blunder was offset

by Mane’s equaliser in the 55th. Dejan Lovren rose above Ramos and headed into the path of Mane, who turned the ball into the net.

But then Bale, so determined to prove Zidane wrong, entered this meeting of the Premier League’s fourth-place team and Spain’s third-place finisher.

“I was very disappointed not to start the game,” he said. “I felt like I deserved it. The best I can do is to come on and make an impact.”

That was achieved with the goal three minutes after replacing Isco and he netted again in the 83rd thanks to Karius’ second gaffe. The German allowed Bale’s shot to squirm through his hands into the net in the 83rd.

“I just feel sorry for my team,” Karius said. “I know I let them down today.”

It left Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp reeling from a sixth successive loss in a final, including a 2013 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich while Borussia Dortmund coach.

In the tunnel before kickoff there was a furtive glance across to Salah, who has also scored 44 goals this season. But the showdown between the world player of the year and a contender for his throne never materialised. Blame Sergio Ramos for that, although the foul that ended Salah’s final was not the Madrid captain at his most cynical.

Salah landed heavily on his left shoulder in a twisting fall after 25 minutes.

Ramos stepped away from the scene unpunished and Salah soon managed to step up after overcoming the initial pain.

Not for long. Salah’s final was over after 30 minutes.

PAGE 20, Monday, May 28, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

THOMPSON CARRIES WARRIORS INTO GAME 7 AGAINST ROCKETS TONIGHT

By JANIE MCCAULEY AP Sports Writer OAKLAND, California (AP) — Klay Thompson flashed back to a night he left the arena still in uniform, furious about his forgettable performance against Denver.

It used to be he struggled to shake off a bad night, or even a bad start to a game.

Now, he just keeps shooting. Whenever he feels like it, from wherever. No conscience. A hand or two in his face, no matter.

“I was not always like this. I used to be so hard on myself, especially early in my career,” Thompson said.

“... I learned, as I get older, if you play with passion, you play hard, and you leave the game saying I gave everything I have tonight in those 48 minutes, you can live with the result.”

The Warriors’ season lives on largely thanks to Thompson’s shooting touch.

Golden State is one win from a fourth straight NBA Finals, headed back to Houston for Game 7 tonight.

He came through with the defending champions’ season on the line in another do-or-die Game 6, just as he did two years ago at Oklahoma City. This time he scored 35 points with nine 3-pointers as

the Warriors rallied with a huge second half to beat the Rockets 115-86 on Saturday night to force a deciding game in the Western Conference finals.

His defence shined, too.

Oh, and the typically subdued Thompson let his emotions flow for all to see: He flexed his biceps Draymond Green style, pumped his arms like Kevin Durant and yelled out the way Stephen Curry often does at Oracle Arena.

Thompson has long been content to be the understated All-Star among the four in Golden State’s starting lineup. “I just wanted to play with as much passion

as I could tonight. Probably sounded more vocal than I usually am,” Thompson acknowledged.

“When your back’s against the wall, if your shot’s not falling, you can always control your passion and how hard you play.

Usually when I do that, it trickles over to other aspects of my game.”

Curry’s Splash Brother did it in 2016 when he scored 41 points against Durant’s former Thunder team with the Warriors facing elimination. They went on to win Game 7 before falling to LeBron James and the Cavaliers in a seven-game NBA Finals.

GOLDEN State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) celebrates during the second half of Game 6 of the NBA Western Conference Finals against the Houston Rockets in Oakland, California, on Saturday night.

(AP Photo/Ben Margot) Durant had no interest in recollecting, smiling and laughing with Curry as he said, “next question.”

As for Curry?

“I think we both blocked that whole year out of our memory,” the two-time MVP quipped.

No arguing they both appreciate Thompson’s no-fear shooting approach and ability to almost single-handedly turn the tide of a game with a timely 3-pointer or two – or nine.

Once Golden State got going in transition, following clutch defensive stops, Thompson found the looks he so prefers from long range.

“I feel like we’re the best team in the world and most fun team in the world to watch when we’re pushing that ball, getting defensive stops and making plays,” he said. “We’ve got too much talent not just to hit singles like coach always says.

Trust the next man ahead of us. It will end up working in our favour most of the time.”

Thompson shot 13 for 23 and 9 of 14 from deep as the Warriors responded from an early 17-point deficit to dominate James Harden and Houston the final three quarters, outscoring the Rockets after trailing 39-22 at the end of the first.

Thompson went a combined 20 of 32 from 3-point range in those two impressive Game 6 shows, Saturday and in 2016.

“I think Klay doesn’t worry too much about repercussions. He doesn’t worry about judgment and results. I think he just loves to play,” coach Steve Kerr said.

“He’s so comfortable in his own skin. I just think he wants to go out there and hoop, and he doesn’t worry about much else. So the pressure doesn’t seem to bother him much. He just competes and plays. As I said, the two-way ability of this guy hounding the MVP of the league, most likely, all game, and continuing to rain down 3-pointers, he’s amazing.”