BASEBALL: Rays pitcher felled by line drive
Rays right-hander Alex Cobb was taken off the field on a stretcher after he was hit on the right ear by a liner off the bat of Kansas City’s Eric Hosmer in the fifth inning of yesterday’s 5-3 Rays’ win in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Team spokesman Rick Vaughn said all tests were normal and Cobb suffered a mild concussion. Cobb was taken to a local hospital , where he spent the night.
“Can’t thank everyone enough for the prayers,” Cobb wrote on his Twitter account. “Was the only way for me to make it out of there ok. Look forward to getting back out there.”
In Omaha, Neb., Joey DeNato threw a four-hitter and Indiana looked right at home in beating Louisville 2-0 in the Hoosiers’ first appearance in the College World Series.
Earlier, Mississippi State took the lead on Wes Rea’s two-run double in the eighth inning and closer Jonathan Holder turned back two Oregon State threats as the Bulldogs beat the Beavers 5-4.
NHL: Ovechkin wins third MVP award
Alexander Ovechkin has won his third Hart Trophy, given to the NHL’s most valuable player.
The Capitals right wing beat out Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and John Tavares of the Islanders for the award. Ovechkin also won the Hart in 2008 and 2009.
In other awards, Montreal’s P.K. Subban won his first Norris Trophy, given to the top defenseman. Sergei Bobrovsky of the Blue Jackets won the Vezina Trophy, given to the NHL’s top goaltender, beating out Henrik Lundqvist of the Rangers. Florida’s Jonathan Huberdeau won the Calder Trophy, given to the top rookie.
Crosby won the Ted Lindsay Award, which recognizes the league’s most outstanding player as voted by fellow members of the NHL Players’ Association.
The Oilers confirmed prospect Kristians Pelss has died. Pelss, 20, went missing Tuesday and was feared drowned in a river near his home in Riga, Latvia.
ETC.: Neymar, Brazil win Confed. Cup opener
In Brasilia, wunderkind striker Neymar scored just three minutes in to help host Brazil beat Japan 3-0 in the opening match of the Confederations Cup.
Abby Wambach scored her 156th career international goal to move within two of Mia Hamm’s U.S. women’s record in the Americans’ 4-1 soccer victory over South Korea in Foxborough, Mass.
Points leader Regan Smith won the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Michigan International Speedway, holding off Kyle Larson in the final 10 laps.
In London, top-seeded Andy Murray and defending champion Marin Cilic will play in the final at Queen’s Club after both earned three-set victories.
The Kings hired Denver executive Pete D’Alessandro as their new general manager.
In Dallas, Mikey Garcia (32-0) stopped Juan Manuel Lopez in the fourth round, leaving the WBO featherweight title vacant after Garcia failed to make weight.
In Winnipeg, Manitoba, Rashad Evans outpointed Dan Henderson in a split decision in a heavyweight bout at UFC 161. The 42-year-old Henderson attacked the 33-year-old Evans eagerly in the opening round, but seemed to tire as the figth went on.