BASEBALL
Parker fractures elbow
Oakland A’s right-hander Jarrod Parker, recovering from Tommy John surgery more than a year ago, broke a bone in his elbow during a minor league game. Pitching in a rehab game for Triple-A Nashville on Friday, Parker threw wildly to the plate and collapsed just off the mound. He rolled around in pain and had to be helped off the field. X-rays and a CT scan at Vanderbilt University Medical Center on Saturday revealed a fracture of the medial epichondyle bone. It’s in the area where the surgery was performed March 24, 2014. “We don’t know how much this sets back his recovery at this time,” A’s trainer Nick Paparesta said Saturday night. “He’s going to go home and we’ll set him up to see a specialist.” Parker, acquired from Arizona before the 2012 season, was 12-8 in 2012 and 13-8 in 2013.
SOCCER
Wambach leads U.S.
Abby Wambach scored twice and the U.S. defeated Ireland 3-0 on Sunday in San Jose, Calif., in an exhibition match in preparation for the Women’s World Cup. Defender Julie Johnston, who has made just 10 international appearances, added a goal to extend her scoring streak to three consecutive matches. It was the Americans’ fifth consecutive shutout, and goalie Hope Solo added to her U.S. record with the 83rd of her career. Wambach padded her career scoring record of 180 goals, and Sunday’s match was her 44th with multiple goals. The soldout exhibition at San Jose’s new Avaya Stadium was part of a sendoff tour for the Women’s World Cup, which starts next month in Canada. The Americans head to Carson, Calif., next Sunday for a match against Mexico.
GOLF
Coetzee wins in playoff
George Coetzee beat Thorbjorn Olesen on the second playoff hole to win the Mauritius Open on Sunday. Overnight leader Coetzee had three birdies at the par-5 18th hole — one at the end of the final round and two in the playoff — to clinch his third European Tour title. Olesen also birdied the first playoff hole before being limited to par at his second attempt in the inaugural event on the Indian Ocean island. Coetzee was the highest-ranked player at the tri-sanctioned European, Asian and South African tour event. Mardan Mamat of Singapore shot 67 to finish third on 12-under 272.
FOOTBALL
Bengals sign QB Pryor
The Cincinnati Bengals signed quarterback Terrelle Pryor at the end of their rookie minicamp Sunday, giving him a chance to compete for the job of backing up Andy Dalton. Pryor attended the camp on a tryout basis. He has a connection with offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, who was his head coach in Oakland in 2011. The former Ohio State quarterback started 16 games during three seasons with the Raiders. The Bengals also signed seventh-round pick Mario Alford, a receiver from West Virginia; safety Erick Dargan from Oregon; defensive tackle Kalafitoni Pole from Washington State, and tight end John Peters from Mount St. Joseph’s. Tight end Kevin Brock, who played in 14 games last season with five catches, was released.
TENNIS
Murray dominates Nadal
Andy Murray beat Rafael Nadal on clay for the first time Sunday, dominating the Madrid Open final to win 6-3, 6-2 against the four-time champion. It was Murray’s first Masters title on clay, a week after his maiden career tournament victory on the red surface at the Munich Open. Murray dictated most of the long rallies, which lasted up to 24 strokes, displaying a level of confidence that has often been lacking for the Briton on clay. He broke twice to take a 4-0 lead in the second set and clinched the victory when Nadal sent a forehand return into the net. The second-seeded Murray said felt under pressure until the end, “but I went for my shots.” It was Nadal’s fourth loss on clay this year, raising questions about his ability to win a 10th French Open title.
Local wild card Matteo Donati made his ATP Tour debut a match to remember, rallying to upset 49th-ranked Santiago Giraldo of Colombia 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 Sunday in the opening round of the Italian Open. Ranked 275th, the 20-year-old Donati showed off an aggressive game, often dictating play from within the baseline to the approval of a vocal crowd inside the Foro Italico’s main stadium. Donati will next meet sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych. Also, 15th-seeded Kevin Anderson of South Africa narrowly edged Florian Mayer of Germany 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-6 (4). Elsewhere on the red clay, Leonardo Mayer of Argentina eliminated another Italian wild card, Federico Gaio, 6-3, 6-4. And Jeremy Chardy of France beat Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic 7-6 (0), 6-4 and will next face third-seeded Andy Murray.
HOCKEY
No deal for Babcock, Penguins
Mike Babcock is going to explore his options. It seems one of them won’t be the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported over the weekend that Penguins General Manager Jim Rutherford is not interested in pursuing perhaps the top head coaching target of the offseason. That current coaching staff is led by Mike Johnston, coming off his first season as Penguins head coach after the team fired Grand Haven native Dan Bylsma last year. Johnston’s team went 43-27-12, losing in the first round to the New York Rangers. He won a Stanley Cup in 2008 and led Team Canada to gold medals at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics.
MOTOR SPORTS
Rosberg rolls in Spain
Nico Rosberg has finally got the better of Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton this season, winning the Spanish Grand Prix from pole position to gain ground on the championship leader. Hamilton finished in second place and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel was third. Hamilton has won three of five races this season, with Vettel the only other driver to beat him when the German driver won the Malaysian GP in March.
BASEBALL
Hamilton singles, strikes out twice in rehab start
Josh Hamilton is starting over, calling his return to baseball a “small miracle.”
The former American League MVP spoke Sunday in Nashville, Tenn., before starting a rehab stint with the Round Rock Express against the Nashville Sounds. He’s recovering from shoulder surgery Feb. 4 and had been working in the Texas Rangers’ extended spring program in Arizona since April 28.
“It’s really a small miracle that I got back here because it was a whole, big, long, ugly process,” Hamilton said. “I feel like the Lord had his hand on it to get me back here. I feel like I’m in the place I’m supposed to be in now.”
He played in three extended spring training games last week before the Rangers stepped up his rehabilitation by sending him to the Express.
Hamilton went 1 for 3 with a single and two strikeouts before being pulled after five innings of work. Facing a 2-1 count in the first inning, Hamilton slapped a hit into shallow left field. Former Cy Young winner Barry Zito struck Hamilton out twice, once swinging and once looking, in the 7-0 loss to Nashville.
“I was a little jumpy at the plate, which is to be expected,” Hamilton said.
The former MVP only had to play one ball in left field, a line-drive roller to the corner.
“I think we liked what we saw,” Round Rock Manager Jason Wood said. “Physically, he looked great. He was moving really well in the outfield. It’s just nice to see him back on the field again, and in good spirits.”
Hamilton said his body feels good, which is important. He also has no clue on when he joins the Rangers. He will remain with Round Rock in Nashville for tonight’s game and head home with the Express for a four-game series with Omaha.
“I could find it as early as tomorrow, or a week from now. And that’s what the fun and frustrating part of the game is. Any given year you can come to spring training and feel really good right off the bat,” Hamilton said.
“Then there’s some other years it takes a little longer.”