Saturday, June 6, 2015 SPORTS East Oregonian Page 3B Belmont Stakes Distance, rivals challenge American Pharoah’s Triple try By BETH HARRIS chance for American Pharoah to AP Racing Writer make history and goose the strug- gling sport or become just another NEW YORK — All that miss. separates American Pharoah from “There’s a lot of anxiety,” said ending the longest drought in horse Bob Baffert, the only trainer to lose racing history — 37 years without the Belmont three times with horses a Triple Crown winner — is 1 1/2 WKDW KDG ZRQ WKH ¿UVW WZR OHJV ³, miles and seven rivals determined don’t even think about the history.” to make him earn a victory in the American Pharoah and seven Belmont Stakes. rivals will run the longest race of Twelve horses before him WKHLU OLYHV 6DWXUGD\ ,I WKHUH¶V UDLQ have tried to in the forecast, complete the give the edge sweep of the to American Kentucky Pharoah, who Derby, romped to a Preakness and seven-length Belmont and win in the failed since Preakness 1978. Now after a massive it’s American downpour Pharoah’s turn occurred as Saturday. the horses The bay were going colt with the to the starting unusually gate. short tail appears to have come The colt’s grand-sire, Empire through the Derby and Preakness Maker, won the 2003 Belmont, with energy to spare, and he’ll need spoiling Funny Cide’s Triple Crown it in the longest and most grueling bid. of the three-race series. This time, the competition American Pharoah galloped seems committed to sticking closer around the big Belmont oval to American Pharoah, whose Thursday before visiting the preferred running style is at the AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File paddock where he will be saddled front, although he’s shown he In this May 15 file photo, jockey Victor Espinoza, celebrates aboard American Pharoah, after winning on race day. He will take to the track can sit off the early pace and win. the 140th Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. American Pharoah will DJDLQ)ULGD\IRUKLV¿QDOWXQHXS+H How many of the horses press the try for the Triple Crown when he runs in Saturday’s 147th running of the Belmont Stakes. is the heavy 3-5 early favorite. early pace will determine who has they’re all going to be pretty close out their horses. Others have moved tracks where most of them ride. %HIRUH $I¿UPHG VZHSW WKH enough gas left for the 1,097-yard together.” too late and let the leaders get away. American Pharoah’s Califor- 1978 Kentucky Derby, Preakness run down the stretch. Just as horses aren’t used to The track’s deep, sandy surface nia-based jockey, Victor Espinoza, and Belmont, 25 years had passed ³, ZDQW KLP WR EUHDN FOHDQO\ running 1 1/2 miles, jockeys aren’t can prove tiring to run on, the turns has experience in the Belmont, between Triple Crown winners and freely,” Baffert said, “and used to riding races that long, either. are sweeping, and the poles used by having lost two other Triple tries, Citation in 1948 and Secretariat have Victor put him in the mode The Belmont has undone some who jockeys to judge their location are with California Chrome last year in 1973. Now it’s 37 years, with a ZKHUH KH¶V FRPIRUWDEOH ,¶P VXUH have moved too soon and burned placed differently than at the mile and War Emblem in 2002.

Women’s Soccer Host Canada opens Women’s World Cup against China By ANNE M. PETERSON Group D opens with a match ),)$¶V GHSXW\ GLUHFWRU RI WKH out,” forward Abby Wambach year in Brazil. That system was Associated Press between the United States and competitions division and head of VDLG³:H¶UHJRLQJWREH¿QH´ provided by the German company Australia in Winnipeg on Monday, women’s soccer. TURF WARS: The event is the GoalControl. EDMONTON, Alberta — but probably the most anticipated At the news conference, Cana- ¿UVWVHQLRU:RUOG&XSIRUWKHPHQ So what spurred technology’s Canada coach John Herdman match of the group stage is the dian Soccer Association President RUZRPHQWREHKHOGRQDUWL¿FLDO intrusion into the Beautiful Game? pretty much summed up the showdown between the U.S. and Victor Montagliani was asked turf. The 2010 World Cup. A shot by prevailing sentiment when he was 6ZHGHQQH[W)ULGD\,WSLWV6XQG- if there were any improprieties That hasn’t gone over well with England’s Frank Lampard in the asked what he was looking forward hage against former assistant Jill associated with Canada’s bid for many players, who believe that second round against Germany to most about the Women’s World Ellis, who took over the U.S. team WKH HYHQW ² D UHÀHFWLRQ RI WKH DUWL¿FLDO WXUI H[DFHUEDWHV LQMXULHV was clearly over the line, but disal- Cup. last spring. FRUUXSWLRQDOOHJDWLRQVIDFLQJ),)$ and changes the way the ball lowed. That goal would have tied “Winning,” Herdman said. The players, many of whom as a whole. moves. Join the crowd, coach. played for Sundhage, were The question was a bit amusing Wambach led a group of LW,QVWHDG*HUPDQ\ZRQ Canada, ranked No. 8 in the keeping perspective on the match. because Canada was the only SOD\HUVZKR¿OHGDOHJDOFKDOOHQJH 6$<,1**22'%<(6HYHUDO world, opens women’s soccer’s ³,W¶V MXVW DQRWKHU JDPH IRU country that bid. Zimbabwe with- last fall, alleging gender discrimi- stars have announced that this will premier tournament with a group- us, it’s just another in the group drew. nation — because the men’s World EHWKHLU¿QDO:RUOG&XSLQFOXGLQJ stage match against No. 16 China round,” said U.S. defender Meghan ³, DFWXDOO\ WKLQN WKDW LW¶V D Cup is always played on real grass. Japan’s Homare Sawa, who is on Saturday in Edmonton, one of Klingenberg. “We’re not looking SRVLWLYH WKLQJ WKDW WKH ¿UVW WRXU- The players withdrew their action playing in her sixth — a record the six Canadian cities hosting the at is as the ‘Group of Death’ or nament after whatever happened earlier this year when it became among women and men. PRQWKORQJHYHQW7KH¿QDOLV-XO\ the easiest group, or whatever it is. last week is the Women’s World clear it wouldn’t be considered German goalkeeper Nadine 5 in Vancouver, British Columbia. We’re just looking at it as a game Cup. Because women’s football before the event. Angerer also said she is retiring Twenty-four teams are we have to win because we want is a very pure form of football. All six stadiums and 18 practice after this year. And Wambach will competing this year, up from to be on the podium at the end of $QG,WKLQNZRPHQ¶VIRRWEDOOFDQ ¿HOGVLQ&DQDGDDUHRXW¿WWHGZLWK likely to hang up her cleats — 16 that took part in the 2011 this tournament.” shine some light in the dark clouds fake turf. although she may stick around for tournament in Germany. Japan Some things to watch as the that are hanging over the game,” *2$//,1(7(&+12/2*< the 2016 Olympics. won that one on penalty kicks tournament gets underway: Montagliani said. 7KLV LV WKH ¿UVW :RPHQ¶V :RUOG “We have stars like Alex LQ D PHPRUDEOH ¿QDO DJDLQVW WKH THE SHOW MUST GO ON: $66(66,1* 7+( 81,7(' Cup that will use goal-line Morgan and Sydney Leroux and United States. The women’s game and the World STATES: There have been mixed technology aimed at taking the Megan Rapinoe who are going to The Americans, ranked No. 2, Cup have not really been touched reviews of the U.S. team in the guesswork out of the ref’s hands are among the favorites, along with all that much by the scandal matches leading up to the World when it comes to those critical continue on for many years on this top-ranked Germany and third- URFNLQJ),)$WKHVSRUW¶VLQWHUQD- Cup, starting with an uncharacter- goal/not-goal questions. WHDP$QGKRSHIXOO\,¶PJRLQJWR ranked France. The U.S. women tional governing body. istic loss to France in Lorient in The Hawk-Eye system trains be riding out off into the sunset are in Group D, the so-called The only telltale sign of its February and ending with a listless VHYHQ FDPHUDV RQ HDFK JRDO ,I with a World Cup championship,” “Group of Death” that includes LPSDFWFDPHZKHQ),)$6HFUHWDU\ 0-0 draw against South Korea in there’s a score, a signal is trans- Wambach said. “For me it would upstart Australia, Sweden and General Jerome Valcke withdrew New Jersey last Saturday. mitted to a watch worn by each be an amazing thing to be able to former U.S. coach Pia Sundhage, from the tournament’s opening The players themselves say PDWFKRI¿FLDO leave this team on a high note and and perennial African champion news conference in Vancouver. He they are unconcerned, trusting a Goal-line technology was also know that it’s in good hands with Nigeria. was replaced by Tatjana Haenni, process. “Everybody, don’t freak used in the men’s World Cup last those players.”

MLB Amphibious pitcher makes debut Fan badly injured at Fenway BOSTON (AP) — The looked around, saw some blood 9HQGLWWHEHFRPHV¿UVW Athletics and Red Sox came to a and looked away.” stop while a woman was treated Boston police spokesman pitcher in 20 years to for life-threatening injuries after 'DYLG (VWUDGD FRQ¿UPHG WKH EDW pitch with both arms she was struck by a broken bat that hit the fan and said her injuries ÀHZLQWRWKHVWDQGV were life threatening. She was in MLB game Concerned players watched. WDNHQ WR %HWK ,VUDHO 'HDFRQHVV The crowd went quiet. Medical Center. By HOWARD ULMAN Everything that followed meant “There was just some bad Associated Press little Friday night — Oakland’s luck,” Lawrie said. “There’s really 3DW 9HQGLWWH EHFRPLQJ WKH ¿UVW no time (for fans) to react behind BOSTON — Pat Venditte took pitcher in 20 years to throw with the dish. ... Unfortunately, every- his warmup pitches in his major both arms in the same game, Wade thing’s so close behind there. league debut with his right arm. And Miley pitching impressively for “Hopefully, everything’s all his left. Boston, the Red Sox beating the right,” he added. The ambidextrous pitcher entered Athletics 4-2. Dustin Pedroia had three hits the game against the Boston Red Sox “Any time anybody’s taken off for Boston, which led 3-0 after at the start of the seventh inning after WKH ¿HOG RQ D VWUHWFKHU \RX KDYH four innings and ended Oakland’s being called up Friday by the Oakland AP Photo/Charles Krupa \RXU ¿QJHUV FURVVHG´ 2DNODQG four-game winning streak. Athletics. In this two image combination, Oakland Athletics relief pitcher manager Bob Melvin said. “You 0LOH\   DOORZHG DQ 5%, Wearing a specially designed Pat Venditte (29) delivers with his left and right hand to separate realize that that’s a lot more single to Marc Canha in the Boston Red Sox batters during the seventh inning at Fenway important than a baseball game.” glove, he threw warmup pitches with Park in Boston, Friday,. ¿IWKEXW%RVWRQPDGHLWRQD his right hand then switched to his left With one out in the top of run-scoring single by Brock Holt to face lefty Brock Holt. ,Q  RXWLQJV WKLV VHDVRQ  LQ injury. the second inning, Oakland’s in the bottom of the inning off $IWHU +ROW JURXQGHG RXW WR ¿UVW relief, Venditte was 1-0 with a 1.36 Oakland catcher Stephen Vogt Brett Lawrie’s bat broke on his Scott Kazmir (2-4). Venditte put his glove on his left hand ERA and held opponents to a .167 faced Venditte in the minors about JURXQGRXW WR VHFRQG DQG ÀHZ “He’s settled in to the type of and pitched to righty Hanley Ramirez, EDWWLQJDYHUDJH,QHLJKWPLQRUOHDJXH ¿YH\HDUVDJR into the stands between home pitcher he was for three years in plate and third base. Medical who singled on the second pitch. VHDVRQV WKH ¿UVW VHYHQ LQ WKH 1HZ ³,W¶V D VLJKW WR VHH DQG KH¶V YHU\ Arizona,” before Boston traded Then, still pitching with his right arm, York Yankees organization, he has good both ways,” Vogt said. “When personnel rushed to the box seat where the woman, whose head for him before this season, Red he got righty Mike Napoli to ground a 2.37 ERA with 52 saves and nine ZHVLJQHGKLP,ZDVH[FLWHGEHFDXVH Sox manager John Farrell said. into an inning-ending double play. starts. , ZDQW WR VHH ZKDW LW¶V OLNH WR FDWFK was bloodied, was sitting. There’s no netting in front of the seats in ³7DNH DZD\ WKH ¿UVW WKUHH IRXU Fans may stare when Venditte The last time a pitcher threw a guy like that. He’s kind of got starts of the season and he’s gotten switches his glove from one hand to with both hands in a major league the same stuff from both sides. So that area. -RVK 5HGGLFN ¿QLVKHG WKH back to attacking the strike zone the other, but the Athletics promoted game was on Sept. 28, 1995, when whether it’s a right-handed hitter or a down.” him because he pitched very well this inning with another groundout to Greg Harris did it with the Montreal left-handed hitter, you call the game second. Lawrie led off the seventh with season at Triple-A Nashville. ([SRV ,W ZDV WKH QH[WWRODVW JDPH DFFRUGLQJO\,W¶VIXQWRVHH´ “There’s a little bit of a sideshow Then, with Mookie Betts KLV¿IWKKRPHURIWKH\HDU of a career in which he appeared in Venditte has the matchup edge, waiting to lead off the bottom of Miley allowed two runs on to it for good reason,” Melvin said. 703, and he is the only pitcher in the throwing left-handed to lefties and “But the reason he’s here is because the second for Boston, play was six hits in 7 1-3 innings. Junichi modern era to do that. right-handed to righties, except when delayed for several minutes while Tazawa got the last two outs in the he’s performed.” ,Q RWKHU PRYHV WKH $WKOHWLFV KH¶V IDFLQJ D VZLWFKKLWWHU ,Q WKDW the woman was treated, placed on Venditte took the mound to the eighth and Koji Uehara escaped a optioned right-hander Dan Otero to case, the rule states he must decide a stretcher and wheeled away for second-and-third jam in the ninth song “Both Sides, Now,” performed Nashville and moved Coco Crisp to which arm he’s throwing with and more treatment. for his 12th save in 14 opportuni- by Joni Mitchell. the 60-day disabled list with a neck the batter adjusts to that. He rarely, if ³, KHDUG KHU´ %HWWV VDLG ³, ties.