It came down to the final seconds, but the Lakers found a way to hold off the Thunder this time around, winning 99-96. http://t.co/mUPqQKfQ

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Leinster look to Kearney brothers for Euro rugby glory

By GREG BEACHAM | Associated Press  –  LOS ANGELES (AP) — After two straight exhausting playoff games that went down to the last gasp, Kobe Bryant knows the Los Angeles Lakers can’t hope to keep up with the younger, faster Oklahoma City Thunder. They’re better off slowing down the game — or even better yet, standing still at the free throw line

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Kobe leads Lakers past Thunder in 99-96 thriller

By GREG BEACHAM | Associated Press  –  LOS ANGELES (AP) — After two straight exhausting playoff games that went down to the last gasp, Kobe Bryant knows the Los Angeles Lakers can’t hope to keep up with the younger, faster Oklahoma City Thunder. They’re better off slowing down the game — or even better yet, standing still at the free throw line. That’s what the Lakers did to near perfection in Game 3 on Friday night, and that’s why they’re still standing in a series with an opponent who can run circles around them

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Kobe leads Lakers past Thunder in 99-96 thriller

Reuters  –  (Reuters) – The Atlanta Braves handed Tampa Bay a rare home loss when they chased top pitcher James Shields after six innings in a 5-3 victory over the Rays on Friday. Freddie Freeman ‘s run scoring double in the fifth put Atlanta ahead to stay and the Braves added another run two batters later for a 4-2 advantage

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Braves deny Shields seventh win of season

Reuters  –  (Reuters) – The Atlanta Braves handed Tampa Bay a rare home loss when they chased top pitcher James Shields after six innings in a 5-3 victory over the Rays on Friday.

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Braves deny Shields seventh win of season

By Robert Smith | AFP  –  Superboot Morne Steyn will play his 100th Super Rugby game for table-topping Northern Bulls this weekend as Wallaby playmaker Quade Cooper makes his first appearance for the Queensland Reds this year. The Bulls , who lead the Western Stormers by one point in the South African Conference, begin their New Zealand tour against the Otago Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday. Fly-half Steyn, who has 1,134 career Super Rugby points, will become only the sixth Bulls player to reach 100 appearances and is targeting former Wallaby scrum-half George Gregan’s record 136 caps in the southern hemisphere provincial competition

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Steyn eyes ton for Northern Bulls in Super 15 rugby

By NOAH TRISTER | Associated Press  –  DETROIT (AP) — Two outs were all that separated Justin Verlander from yet another rare achievement — and an exclusive club that includes Cy Young , Nolan Ryan and only three other pitchers. With the crowd on its feet in anticipation of Verlander ‘s third no-hitter, the Detroit ace threw a sharp breaking ball, just off the outside corner. Josh Harrison stuck his bat out and flicked a soft line drive agonizingly toward center field.

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Verlander nearly throws 3rd no-hitter for Tigers

By NOAH TRISTER | Associated Press  –  DETROIT (AP) — Two outs were all that separated Justin Verlander from yet another rare achievement — and an exclusive club that includes Cy Young , Nolan Ryan and only three other pitchers. With the crowd on its feet in anticipation of Verlander ‘s third no-hitter, the Detroit ace threw a sharp breaking ball, just off the outside corner. Josh Harrison stuck his bat out and flicked a soft line drive agonizingly toward center field.

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Verlander nearly throws 3rd no-hitter for Tigers

By RONALD BLUM | Associated Press  –  NEW YORK (AP) — Andy Pettitte gave the New York Yankees a Turn Back the Clock night. Provided a one-run lead for much of the night, the 39-year-old left-hander put together a vintage performance in his second start following a one-year layoff. Pettitte pitched four-hit ball over eight innings Friday for his first regular-season win since July 2010, leading the New York Yankees over the Cincinnati Reds 4-0.

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Pettitte leads Yanks over Reds 4-0

By RONALD BLUM | Associated Press  –  NEW YORK (AP) — Andy Pettitte gave the New York Yankees a Turn Back the Clock night. Provided a one-run lead for much of the night, the 39-year-old left-hander put together a vintage performance in his second start following a one-year layoff. Pettitte pitched four-hit ball over eight innings Friday for his first regular-season win since July 2010, leading the New York Yankees over the Cincinnati Reds 4-0.

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Pettitte leads Yanks over Reds 4-0