BASEBALL: Braves blast Dice-K, Red Sox
In Boston, Nate McLouth homered on the game’s first pitch and Kenshin Kawakami beat countryman Daisuke Matsuzaka as the Braves topped the Red Sox, 8-2, last night. Matsuzaka (1-5) failed to reach the sixth inning for the sixth time in his last eight starts. . . . In Philadelphia, Rich Hill pitched into the seventh inning as the Orioles topped the Phillies 7-2. The Phillies fell to 13-20 at home.
* The Tigers gave manager Jim Leyland a two-year contract extension through the 2011 season.
* In Omaha, Neb., LSU hit four home runs and ace right-hander Anthony Ranaudo threw six solid innings as LSU (54-16) eliminated Arkansas with a 14-5 victory that sent the Tigers into next week’s best-of-three College World Series finals starting Monday, where they will face Texas.
Connor Rowe hit a game-winning solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Longhorns (49-14-1) came from behind to beat Arizona State 4-3.
NFL: Giants cut cornerback Barksdale
In a somewhat surprising move, the Giants waived cornerback Rashad Barksdale, who last year was on the practice squad until he was signed to the roster at the end of the season. Barksdale — who played at Albany and briefly in the NFL with the Chiefs — had his roster spot taken by Stoney Woodson, a seventh-round draft pick from South Carolina, who signed his rookie contract, a four-year deal worth $1.8 million. — Paul Schwartz
NBA: Kobe says he won’t leave Lakers
Kobe Bryant said he plans to stay with the NBA Lakers and won’t opt out of his contract this summer. Phil Jackson said his health will dictate whether he returns as coach. “I’m not going anywhere,” Bryant said.
* Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki wants sole custody of his former girlfriend’s unborn child if genetic tests prove he is the father, according to a court filing.
TENNIS: Nadal withdraws from Wimbledon
Defending champion Rafael Nadal withdrew from Wimbledon because of tendinitis in his knees. Wimbledon begins on Monday. “I’m just not 100 percent,” Nadal said during a news conference at the All England Club. “I’m better than I was a couple of weeks ago, but I just don’t feel ready.”
MLS: Red Bulls kick off second half
The Red Bulls kicked off the season by getting kicked around 3-0 in Seattle, and they will start the second half of the year tonight (7:30 p.m., MSG) against the same expansion Sounders. In last place at the midway point and mired in a five-game skid, the Red Bulls (2-10-3, nine points) will need to amass about 30 points in the season’s second half to reach the last few years’ playoff benchmark of 40. — Brian Lewis
AUTO: Vickers claims pole on Sonoma course
In Sonoma, Calif., Brian Vickers won his second consecutive pole, qualifying first for tomorrow’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 with a strong run through the road course at Infineon Raceway. . . . NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield‘s next chance to have his indefinite drug suspension lifted will be at a July 1 hearing in federal court.
* Formula One’s governing body said it intends to sue the eight teams that announced plans for a rival series next season.