Update on the latest sports
APKENTUCKY DERBY
Derby is back at old home in May, with fans and flowery hats
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The bourbon is flowing again, flowery hats and humans are on the scene and 19 horses are ready to run the most chaotic race of their lives. After being disrupted by a pandemic, the Kentucky Derby is back with many of its traditions intact.
America’s longest continuously held sporting event returns to its traditional spot on the calendar — the first Saturday in May. The 147th edition comes less than eight months after it was run without spectators last September because of COVID-19, making it the shortest time between Derbies in history.
The eerie silence that settled over Churchill Downs last year when no spectators were allowed is being replaced by attendance of about 45,000 — some 100,000 less than usual. Masks are required. Food and drinks are all-inclusive to lessen long lines and separate payments for every transaction.
Essential Quality is the early 2-1 favorite in a field of 19 horses.
With the Derby restored to its usual day, last year’s upside down Triple Crown has been righted. The Preakness follows on May 15 and the Belmont, which kicked off the series a year ago, concludes it on June 5.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Matt Harvey goes for 3rd straight win
UNDATED (AP) — Matt Harvey aims to win his third straight start when he starts for the Orioles Saturday at Oakland.
The 32-year-old former All-Star is 2-1 with a 4.26 ERA in five starts with his new team. Harvey hasn’t won three starts in a row since 2018 with Cincinnati. Since then, he went 3-5 with the Angels in 2019 and 0-3 with the Royals in 2020.
Elsewhere on Saturday:
— Padres lefty Blake Snell makes another attempt at his first win for his new club. Acquired from Tampa Bay in an offseason trade, the 2018 AL Cy Young Award winner is 0-0 with a 3.92 ERA in five starts for San Diego. He’s struck out 31 in 20 2/3 innings. Snell faces San Francisco at Petco Park. Giants righty Anthony DeSclafani pitched a three-hit shutout against Colorado in his last start.
— A day after routing the Detroit Tigers 10-0, the Yankees continue their series against the team with the poorest record in the majors. New York pitchers had 18 strikeouts Friday to tie a franchise record for a nine-inning game, last achieved against Toronto on Sept. 29, 2017. The Tigers are hitting just .199 as a team, the worst batting average in the majors, and have the poorest record at 8-19. Jameson Taillon starts for the Yankees against fellow right-hander Spencer Turnbull.
LPGA-SINGAPORE
China’s Lin Xiyu has 1-stroke 54-hole lead at LPGA Singapore
SINGAPORE (AP) — China’s Lin Xiyu has a one-stroke lead after three rounds of the LPGA Tour’s HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore.
Lin tapped in on the 18th hole, her fourth birdie of the back nine, for a 5-under 67 and a 54-hole total of 14-under 202.
Hannah Green shot her second consecutive 66 to move into a share of second place with world No. 2-ranked Inbee Park. Park shot 70 with a birdie on the 18th after a double-bogey 7 on the 16th cost her the lead. Park led by one stroke after the first round and was tied for the lead after two.
TOKYO OLYMPICS
Olympic torch relay takes a detour; diving test event opens in Tokyo
TOKYO (AP) — The Tokyo Olympics torch relay takes another detour this weekend when it enters the southern island of Okinawa. A leg of the relay on Okinawa’s resort island of Miyakojima has been called off as coronavirus cases surge in Japan. Other legs on Okinawa will take place.
A 17-day state of emergency went into effect on April 25 in some areas in Japan.
Meanwhile, a six-day, on-and-off diving event, has opened in Tokyo with 225 athletes from 46 countries — but no fans. The Olympics are scheduled to open on July 23.
