Quick Hitters
Degenkolb masters cobblestones at Tour
ROUBAIX, France — John Degenkolb won a three-man sprint to conclude the action-packed cobblestoned Stage 9 of the Tour de France on Sunday, while overall contender Richie Porte crashed out of the race and favorite Chris Froome overcame a tumble.
Yellow-jersey holder Greg Van Avermaet crossed second and increased his overall lead to 43 seconds ahead of Geraint Thomas, a teammate of Froome at Team Sky. Yves Lampaert of Quick-Step finished third.
Four-time Tour champion Chris Froome crossed in the main pack, 27 seconds behind, having had a fan help him get going again when he fell with 45 kilometers (28 miles) to go.
Froome moved up to eighth overall, 1:42 behind Van Avermaet, who is not a threat in the mountains.
Porte, the BMC team leader, crashed 10 kilometers into the 156.5-kilometer (97-mile) leg — before any of the 15 cobblestone sections — and abandoned with an apparent right shoulder injury.
Porte also crashed out of last year’s Tour in the ninth stage, on a mountain descent.
Suwannapura gets first LPGA Tour win
SYLVANIA, Ohio — Thidapa Suwannapura won her first LPGA Tour event on Sunday, closing with a 6-under 65 and birdieing the first playoff hole to defeat Brittany Lincicome at the Marathon Classic.
The 25-year-old Thai player is the sixth first-time winner on tour this year. Her previous best finish in 120 starts was seventh at the 2014 Kingsmill Championship.
Suwannapura picked up three strokes over her final two holes, making eagle on the par-5 17th and closing with a birdie on the par-5 18th at Highland Meadows to finish at 14-under 270.
In the playoff, Suwannapura converted a short birdie putt after Lincicome hit her second shot into a water hazard and scrambled for par.
Machado homers, exits early in Orioles’ win
BALTIMORE — For well over six seasons, Manny Machado’s value to the Baltimore Orioles has been solely his ability to hit and play the field.
All that has changed, now that the Orioles are looking to receive a huge return for their All-Star shortstop in a blockbuster trade.
Machado homered before being removed on a wet day, Adam Jones hit a three-run double and Baltimore rallied past the Texas Rangers 6-5 Sunday.
Machado was taken out of the game in the fifth inning by manager Buck Showalter after a 26-minute rain delay. The move was designed to get their star player off a sloppy field, because the last-place Orioles are entertaining offers for Machado before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
“Obviously there’s a different situation going on with Manny. You all know that,” Showalter said. “That had a lot to do with it.”
Plain and simple, the Orioles can’t afford to have Machado get hurt. Now, more than ever.
“A month ago he wouldn’t have come out of the game,” Showalter acknowledged. “We know that. You know it.”
After being replaced by Jace Peterson, Machado sat in the dugout, wearing a sweatshirt and joking with his teammates.
Machado is Baltimore’s lone representative for Tuesday’s All-Star Game. He has spent his entire career in Baltimore, but his contract expires after this season and the Orioles don’t appear interested in locking him up with a long-term deal.