Tomic loses shortest match on record
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. — Bernard Tomic lost the shortest completed ATP match on record Thursday, lasting only 28 minutes at the Sony Open in his first tournament since undergoing surgery on both hips.
Ending a two-month layoff, Tomic won just 13 points and lost to Jarkko Nieminen 6-0, 6-1. It was the quickest match since the ATP started keeping such records in 1991.
Nieminen lost only three points in seven service games. The first set took just 13 minutes; the second was only slightly more competitive.
Tomic, an Australian, was a Wimbledon quarterfinalist in 2011. He has been ranked as high as 27th and is now 74th.
NFL prospect Lewan charged with assault, battery
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Authorities in Ann Arbor say NFL prospect and former Michigan offensive tackle Taylor Lewan has been charged with assault and battery, stemming from a confrontation with two Ohio State fans after the Buckeyes beat the Wolverines.
Lewan is scheduled for an April 8 arraignment on one count of aggravated assault and two counts assault and battery.
Two months ago, Lewan denied he was in a fight and was trying to break something up. The incident happened in Ann Arbor on Dec. 1.
The charges against him include aggravated assault and assault and battery.
Reds’ Chapman ‘lucky’ to have only broken bone
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman is undergoing surgery to repair a broken bone above his left eye but has no other serious injuries after being hit in the face by a line drive in a spring training game.
Team doctor Tim Kremchek called Chapman “a very lucky guy.”
Kremchek says a metal plate will be inserted in the bone and will remain there permanently. He said Chapman has a very mild concussion but no other brain injury and no injury to his eye.
Kansas City’s Salvador Perez lined Chapman’s 99 mph fastball into the pitcher’s face in Wednesday night’s game. Chapman collapsed to the ground, moaning in pain and kicking his feet, then was taken off the field by stretcher.
Catcher Brayan Pena was with Chapman Thursday morning and said the pitcher was in good spirits.
In son swap, Angels, Cubs deal Scioscia, Gretzky
SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Los Angeles Angels and Chicago Cubs included a pair of big names in a minor league trade.
The Angels dealt first baseman Matt Scioscia, the son of manager Mike Scioscia, to the Cubs on Thursday for outfielder Trevor Gretzky, the son of hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky.
The Cubs selected Gretzky in the seventh round of the 2011 amateur draft; the younger Scioscia was picked in the 45th round the same year out of Notre Dame.
Scioscia, 25, has hit .222 with three home runs and 46 RBIs in three minor league seasons, never advancing past Class A. He batted .194 with three clubs last year.
Gretzky, 21, hit a combined .274 with a home run and eight RBIs in 2013 for Class A Boise and Kane County last year.
By wire sources