MOTOR SPORTS
Larson team penalized again
The Sprint Cup team of Kyle Larson has been punished by NASCAR for the second consecutive race. Interim crew chief Philip Surgen was fined $25,000 and the Chip Ganassi Racing team lost 15 driver points and 15 owner points for infractions at the race in Michigan last weekend. The No. 42 Chevrolet failed a postrace inspection, violating rules relating to actions detrimental to stock car racing and vehicle inspection measurements. Surgen was a replacement crew chief for Chad Johnston, who missed the race after becoming the fourth crew chief suspended this season over loose lug nuts. Larson finished third in Sunday's race, becoming part of the youngest top three in NASCAR Sprint Cup history behind Joey Logano and runner-up Chase Elliott.
BASEBALL
Royals designate Infante
The Kansas City Royals designated infielder Omar Infante for assignment before Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Indians, likely ending his rather unproductive tenure in Kansas City. Infante has struggled with injuries since signing a $30.25 million, four-year deal prior to the 2014 season. Unless he is traded or claimed on waivers, both unlikely, the Royals would owe him the remainder of $7.75 million due this season, $8 million on his contract next season and a $2 million buyout for the 2018 season. Infante, 34, has gradually lost playing time to Whit Merrifield and others, and was hitting .239 with 11 RBI in 39 games. He hit .220 in 124 games last season, when an injury sidelined him during the Royals' run to the World Series title. Kansas City recalled left-hander Brian Flynn to take his roster spot.
• The Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery in Washington is opening an exhibition on baseball great Babe Ruth. The Smithsonian said "One Life: Babe Ruth" will open on June 24 and run through May 21. The exhibit will include more than 30 objects including prints and photographs, personal memorabilia and selected artifacts. Ruth died in 1948.
FOOTBALL
San Diego's Woodhead injured
The San Diego Chargers got a scare Wednesday when running back Danny Woodhead went down with a sprained left ankle during minicamp and stayed down for several minutes. Several teammates circled around Woodhead, who eventually got up and walked off the field on his own power. Coach Mike McCoy said Woodhead was coming across on a screen and got rolled up on by a defensive lineman. Woodhead missed most of the 2014 season with a broken leg. McCoy said he was so pleased with the first two days of minicamp and the offseason in general that he canceled today's practice. Offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt said running back Melvin Gordon finished the offseason program strong. Gordon had microfracture surgery on his left knee in January.
• A California coroner said imprisoned former NFL running back Lawrence Phillips had a "Do Not Resuscitate" note taped to his chest when he was found hanging in his cell. The autopsy report released Wednesday said a deputy Kern County coroner found another note and a picture of Phillips and an unnamed child tucked into Phillips' left sock. The coroner ruled that the 40-year-old Phillips committed suicide in Kern Valley State Prison in January. He was awaiting a trial that could have brought him the death penalty. He was charged with killing a former cellmate, 37-year-old Damion Soward, the cousin of former Southern California and NFL wide receiver R. Jay Soward. The coroner provided the report to The Associated Press under a public records request.
• Left offensive tackle Eugene Monroe has been released by the Baltimore Ravens, who lost patience with the oft-injured veteran. Since signing a five-year, $37.5 million extension in 2013, Monroe provided little return on Baltimore's investment. He missed five games in 2014 and last season played in only six games. After undergoing offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum, Monroe skipped organized team activities. Ravens Coach John Harbaugh said Tuesday that Monroe was being held out of the mandatory minicamp while the team looked to deal him. The departure of Monroe paves the way for top draft pick Ronnie Stanley to earn a starting job on the offensive line.
COLLEGE ATHLETICS
More file suit against Baylor
Three more women have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Baylor University, claiming the school did nothing to help them after they reported being sexually assaulted. The Baptist school in Waco, Texas, has come under intense criticism for mishandling allegations of sexual assault over several years, including cases involving football players. University president and chancellor Ken Starr was demoted and head football coach Art Briles was fired. The women, all listed as "Jane Doe," say they were attacked on or near campus in 2004, 2013 and 2014. None of the alleged assailants are identified, but the woman in the 2014 case alleges the attacker was a football player. Baylor officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Baylor is currently trying to settle a similar lawsuit filed in March.
BASKETBALL
More surgery for guard
Memphis Grizzlies guard Jordan Adams is having cartilage transplanted into his right knee, the one he had surgery on last August after tearing the meniscus in an offseason workout. The Grizzlies announced that the transplant was being performed Wednesday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York by Dr. Riley Williams. Adams played two games before hurting cartilage in the same knee. He had surgery Jan. 12 before a lengthy rehab program trying to return to basketball. But he couldn't play without pain, and Adams and the Grizzlies' medical staff decided the guard needed a cartilage transplant. General Manager Chris Wallace called the surgery "difficult news" and said the Grizzlies hoped the procedure would help the 22nd pick overall in the 2014 draft out of UCLA return to the court.
TENNIS
Federer opens with victory
Top-seeded Roger Federer began his bid for a ninth title at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany, with a routine 6-4, 7-6 (3) victory over wild card Jan-Lennard Struff on Wednesday. Federer never faced a break point and fired 15 aces to reach the second round. Second-seeded Kei Nishikori pulled out with a rib injury. Nishikori reached the second round and was due to face Florian Mayer on Wednesday but told organizers that he was unable to play. Mayer advanced to the quarterfinals with a walkover. In other first-round matches, eighth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber defeated Marcel Granollers 6-2, 7-6 (4), hitting 39 to 24 winners, while Teymuraz Gabashvili beat Paolo Lorenzi 6-1, 6-4. In a second-round match, Alexander Zverev advanced to the quarterfinals when Benjamin Becker retired with a back injury with Zverev leading 7-5, 3-0. Zverev lost the first four games of the match but recovered against his German opponent.
BASEBALL
Rockies cut Reyes, faced with contract
DENVER — Rather than activate Jose Reyes following his domestic violence suspension, the Colorado Rockies cut the shortstop Wednesday and almost certainly will be responsible for the $39 million remaining on his contract.
Reyes completed a 59-day suspension on May 31 for violating Major League Baseball’s new domestic violence policy, then went on a minor league injury rehabilitation assignment that was limited to 14 days.
Colorado reinstated the four-time All-Star from the restricted list Wednesday and immediately designated him for assignment, giving the Rockies 10 days to trade Reyes or release him. Because he has five or more years of major league service, Reyes, 33, cannot be assigned outright to a minor league team without his consent.
At the time Reyes was cut, he was owed $13,224,044 of his $22 million salary this year. His deal includes a guaranteed $22 million salary for 2017 and a $4 million buyout of a $22 million team option for 2018.
Any team wanting Reyes likely would wait for Colorado to release him and then sign Reyes for a prorated share of the $507,500 major league minimum, with the Rockies responsible for the rest.
“Jose is still a very talented player,” Rockies General Manager Jeff Bridich said. “There is a little bit of time to figure out that exactly means in terms of his true exit. We’ll see what happens.”
Bridich said a couple of teams expressed interest in Reyes, but “nothing truly serious ever materialized.”
He was suspended after being charged with domestic violence for an altercation with his wife in Hawaii last October. Prosecutors dropped the charge ahead of a trial scheduled for April 4, saying Reyes’ wife was not cooperating.
Reyes was assigned to Class AAA Albuquerque on June 1 and hit .333 in nine games with the Isotopes.
Sports on 06/16/2016