National League Capsules

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Bronson Arroyo worked eight strong innings and the Cincinnati Reds broke loose with three home runs Thursday for a 6-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals that averted a three-game sweep.

NHL Capsules

MIAMI (AP) - LeBron James had 27 points and 11 rebounds, Dwyane Wade scored 18 points and Miami tightened up the race in the Eastern Conference by beating Chicago 83-72 in a scuffle-filled game Thursday night.

Elliott leads Blues to win vs Sharks in Game 4

SAN JOSE (AP) - Brian Elliott made 24 saves, B.J. Crombeen and Andy McDonald scored and the St. Louis Blues moved one win away from the second round of the playoffs, beating the San Jose Sharks 2-1 in Game 4 on Thursday night to take a 3-1 series lead.

SKI REPORTS

Woods' swing coach: criticism is 'out of hand'

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Tiger Woods' swing coach says criticism of his client is getting out of hand. "I know everyone has a job to do, and I get it," Foley said this week on "Fairways of Life," a radio show hosted by Matt Adams on XM Sirius. "But if it is about the game of golf, Tiger Woods is an extremely ...

NHL Capsules

CHICAGO (AP) - Mikkel Boedker scored in overtime for the second straight game and the Phoenix Coyotes beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 on Thursday night to take a 3-1 lead in the first-round series.

Sports News Brief

COLLEGES

Colts picking Andrew Luck as No. 1 in next week’s NFL player draft

Selig says A's and Rays must get new ballparks

Lakers rout Warriors, await Kobe's return

OAKLAND (AP) - Kobe Bryant walked out of the visitor's locker room to a few dozen fans waiting with hugs and handshakes for the Los Angeles Lakers' star and a circle of reporters ready to stick a microphone near his face.

Splitter, Neal lead Spurs past Kings

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Even with Tim Duncan sitting out to rest, the San Antonio Spurs had enough to get an easy win on the road for the third time in three nights.

NBA Capsules

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Carmelo Anthony scored 21 of his 33 points in the first quarter, and the New York Knicks beat the Nets 104-95 on Wednesday night in their last trip to New Jersey.

National League Capsules

DENVER (AP) - Juan Nicasio threw 6 1-3 solid innings for his first win since returning from a broken neck, lifting the Colorado Rockies over the San Diego Padres 8-4 on Wednesday night.

American League Capsules

BOSTON (AP) - Mike Napoli hit a two-run homer and drove in four runs, Derek Holland pitched seven solid innings as Texas beat Boston for its sixth straight win.

Blues outplay Sharks on special teams

SAN JOSE (AP) - The San Jose Sharks are looking to change things up after dropping two straight games to the St. Louis Blues in their first-round series.

Indians rout Athletics

CLEVELAND (AP) - Everything is going the Indians' way. There's no dispute or debate about that.

Great debut for Castro, Woods solid at Players

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Tiger Woods was nine shots out of the lead, not the best position at The Players Championship, especially since he had not even started his round. Perhaps the bigger surprise was the guy who posted the record-tying round Thursday.

NHL capsules

CHICAGO (AP) - Marian Hossa scored twice to back a strong effort by goalie Corey Crawford, and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Minnesota Wild 5-1 Thursday night to win their first-round playoff series 4-1.

Warriors end skid at 30 in San Antonio, tie series

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Klay Thompson scored 34 points, Stephen Curry added 22 and the Golden State Warriors withstood another furious rally by the San Antonio Spurs for a 100-91 victory Wednesday night to even their series at one game apiece and snap a 30-game skid in the Alamo City.

49ers reach stadium naming rights deal with Levi Strauss

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The future home of the San Francisco 49ers will be called Levi's Stadium.

Marleau, Pavelski lead Sharks into 2nd round

SAN JOSE (AP) - A year after being among the main perpetrators of another playoff failure in San Jose, Patrick Marleau and Joe Pavelski are leading the Sharks back to the second round.

Torres singles in 10th, lifts Giants past Phillies

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Buster Posey and Andres Torres waited three hours before making their contributions to yet another walkoff win for the San Francisco Giants.

Indians edge Athletics on controversial call

CLEVELAND (AP) - Adam Rosales thought he hit a game-tying home run. The Athletics, Indians and 14,000 or so fans thought so, too.

Sports news briefs

Wondolowski leads 'Quakes over Toronto FC: SANTA CLARA (AP) - Chris Wondolowski set up the tying goal and scored the winner to lead the San Jose Earthquakes to a 2-1 victory over Toronto FC on Wednesday night.

Sharks sweep Canucks with 4-3 win in OT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - Patrick Marleau scored a power-play goal 13:18 into overtime and the San Jose Sharks completed their first playoff sweep in franchise history, beating the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 Tuesday night.

Spurs going for 2-0 lead over Warriors

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Even a day later, the San Antonio Spurs still found it difficult to explain how they won the opener of their second-round series against Golden State.

Utley, Howard homer as Phillies beat Giants

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Chase Utley and Ryan Howard homered to help the Philadelphia Phillies beat Tim Lincecum and the San Francisco Giants 6-2 on Tuesday night.

Milone’s gem wasted in loss to Indians

CLEVELAND (AP) - Athletics left-hander Tommy Milone provided a textbook example of a hard-luck loss Tuesday night.

NHL capsules

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - Patrick Marleau scored a power-play goal 13:18 into overtime and the San Jose Sharks completed their first playoff sweep in franchise history, beating the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 Tuesday night.

NBA capsules

NEW YORK (AP) - Carmelo Anthony scored 32 points, 16 during a 30-2 New York onslaught in the second half, the Knicks beat the Indiana Pacers 105-79 on Tuesday night to even the Eastern Conference semifinals at one game.