SPORTS SHORTS
MLB: Triple seals cycle for Myers
Wil Myers hit a leadoff triple in the eighth inning to complete the first cycle of his career, and the Padres beat the Rockies 5-3 on Monday night in Denver. Myers singled in the first, doubled in the third and homered in the sixth. In Detroit, Justin Verlander and Chris Sale dominated in a matchup of ace pitchers before Nicholas Castellanos singled in the go-ahead run off Sale in the eighth inning, lifting the Tigers over the Red Sox 2-1. In San Francisco, Giants catcher Buster
Posey appeared to be OK after getting hit in the helmet by a 94-mph fastball in the first inning, a scary moment in San Francisco’s 4-1 victory over the Diamondbacks.
In Washington, Bryce Harper tied a career high with four hits, drove in three and reached base in all six plate appearances as the Nationals routed the Cardinals 14-6.
NBA: Minus stars, Cavs fall to Heat
Tyler Johnson scored 24 points, including the game’s final four from the foul line in overtime, and the Heat remained alive in the playoff chase by beating the Cavaliers 124-121 in Miami. The Cavaliers were without the injured LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and
Tristan Thompson and fell a game behind the Celtics in the race for No. 1 in the Eastern Conference.
In Philadelphia, Paul George scored 27 points and the Pacers moved one win away from clinching a playoff berth with a 120-111 victory over the 76ers.
NFL: Pats re-sign DL Branch
The Patriots re-signed Alan Branch, se- curing one of the key pieces of their defensive line, the team announced Monday.
The Bills signed free-agent quarterback T.J. Yates to backup Tyrod Taylor. Buffalo also signed defensive end Ian Seau, the nephew of late Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Junior Seau.
NHL: Kings undergo shakeup
The Kings on Monday fired coach Darryl Sutter and general manager Dean Lombardi, the duo that led the franchise to its only two Stanley Cup championships. The team promoted former defenseman Rob Blake to vice president and general manager. Executive Luc Robitaille was promoted to team president. The Canucks fired coach Willie Desjardins after again missing the postseason.
ETC.: Pro tennis set for Coliseum
Professional men’s tennis is back on Long Island. Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment announced it landed the former Memphis Open — a staple on the men’s tennis tour — and will bring it to the renovated Nassau Coliseum in February.
The yet-to-be-named event will be staged Feb. 10-18. It is the lone indoor ATP event held in the U.S. — Marc Berman Japanese figure skater Mao Asada announced her retirement. The 26-year-old Asada, a silver medalist at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, said she lost her motivation after underperforming last season. UCLA’s Thomas Welsh and Aaron
Holiday entered their names into NBA draft but will not hire an agent, according to a team spokesman.