MLB: A’s give extension to Melvin
Oakland’s Bob Melvin, who was voted AL Manager of the Year, received a two-year contract extension yesterday that takes him through the 2016 season. The A’s also announced they had reached agreement on a $1 million, one-year contract with catcher George Kottaras, a raise of $275,000.
Owners approved a rule change last week that would allow coaches and managers to bring interpreters to the mound this season for conferences with foreign-born pitchers who don’t speak fluent English, ESPN reported.
Reliever J.J. Putz agreed to a $13.5 million, two-year contract with the Diamondbacks, a deal that adds a $7 million salary for 2014. The 35-year-old former Mets right-hander had 32 saves in 37 chances and a 2.82 ERA last year for Arizona.
Outfielder Adam Loewen agreed to a minor league contract to return to the Blue Jays. Loewen hit .227 with eight home runs and 26 RBIs last year with the Mets’ Triple-A team at Buffalo. Toronto also settled with outfielder Colby Rasmus on a one-year deal worth $4,675,000.
Enzo Hernandez died in an apparent suicide in El Tigre, Venezuela. The 63-year-old infielder played for the Padres between 1971-77 and finished his big league career with the Dodgers in 1978.
NBA: Ginobili out with hamstring injury
Manu Ginobili is expected to miss 10-14 days due to a strained left hamstring. The 35-year-old Spurs guard already has dealt with back spasms, a left quadriceps bruise and a thigh bruise this season.
Clippers guard Chris Paul, who leads the NBA in assists, sat out last night’s 99-73 win over the Grizzlies because of a bruised right kneecap.
Kevin Durant scored 41 points as the Thunder became the NBA’s first 30-game winner of the season with a 102-90 victory over the Suns. … The Bulls held the Hawks to a franchise-low 20 points in the first half of a 97-58 victory in Chicago. … Gordon Hayward scored 22 points, including a jumper with 40 seconds remaining, as the Jazz held off the Heat 104-97.
ETC.: ‘Hoop Dreams’ coach fired at USC
Kevin O’Neill was fired as basketball coach at Southern Cal after a 7-10 start. He had a 48-65 record at the school after going 6-26 last season. A former head coach at Marquette, he had a prominent role in the 1994 Oscar-nominated documentary, “Hoop Dreams.’’
Louisville, which moved into the No. 1 spot in the AP basketball rankings, got 23 points from Russ Smith in a 73-58 win over UConn.
Notre Dame junior running back Cierre Wood said he is entering the NFL Draft.
The Stars traded defenseman Mark Fistric to the Oilers for a third-round pick in this year’s draft.
IBF heavyweight title contender Tomaz Adamek was charged with driving while intoxicated after police in Lake Placid said he crashed his car into a parked vehicle Saturday night.