Quick Hitters
John Elway fails to qualify for U.S. Senior Open
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — John Elway will still be a part of the 2018 U.S. Senior Open . He just won’t be playing alongside the likes of defending champion Kenny Perry.
The Broadmoor’s notoriously knotty east course got the best of Elway in his Memorial Day attempt to qualify for the 39th Open championship, where he’ll serve as the tournament’s honorary chairman next month.
Playing Monday for one of two qualifying spots, Elway, who is a 1.4-handicap golfer, shot a 10-over 80 on a drizzly and cool afternoon on the dazzling but demanding course. That left him tied for 18th.
Elway started off strong but a double-bogey on the ninth hole sent him sliding down the leaderboard, where only one golfer broke par — Doug Rohrbaugh, an instructor at Snowmass, Colorado, shot a 1-under 69 to qualify for his fourth Open. Rohrbaugh also has NFL bloodlines: His uncle, John Meyers, was a defensive tackle for the Cowboys and Eagles in the 1960s.
Elway’s long-shot hopes began to fade when he put a ball into the water and then missed a short putt on No. 9.
Smith brilliant for Marlins in 7-2 victory vs. Padres
SAN DIEGO — Miami’s Caleb Smith was brilliant in dominating a matchup of rookie left-handers that went poorly for San Diego’s Eric Lauer.
Smith (4-5) allowed one run and four hits in seven-plus innings, Yadiel Rivera’s two-run single capped Miami’s four-run first inning and Cameron Maybin had three hits and two RBIs against his old team to lead the Marlins to a 7-2 victory against the Padres on Monday.
Smith struck out four to run his major league rookie lead to 69, and walked only one in the matchup of last-place teams.
Smith made his big league debut with the New York Yankees on July 17 last year and went 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA in nine appearances, including two starts. The Marlins acquired him on Nov. 20.
Lauer (1-3) lasted 2 1/3 innings, allowing five runs and seven hits while striking out three and walking two. It was the third time in seven starts he went three or fewer innings.
Lauer’s struggles prompted manager Andy Green to make a double switch with one out in the third, after the lefty allowed Maybin’s second RBI single of the game and then walked Rivera. Robbie Erlin got Lewis Brinson to hit into a double play.
Erlin pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings a day after the Padres had to go with their bullpen exclusively in a 6-1 loss at the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“It’s frustrating giving up runs to begin with,” Lauer said. “I felt like in the first I was making pretty good pitches and they were hitting good pitches. That’s just baseball. You’ve just got to be able to last longer in games. That’s what I’m most upset about.”
The Marlins’ first inning started inauspiciously for San Diego when first baseman Eric Hosmer, who wasn’t wearing sunglasses, lost a pop foul by leadoff batter Miguel Rojas. Although Rojas eventually struck out, it forced Lauer to throw several extra pitches.