Vanderbilt values quality in its hits over the quantity

OMAHA, Neb. — Vanderbilt capitalized on Virginia starter Nathan Kirby’s sudden loss of control to score nine runs in the third inning, then held off the Cavaliers to win 9-8 in Game 1 of the College World Series finals Monday night.

The Commodores (50-20) can win their first national championship in a men’s sport with a win Tuesday night.

Vanderbilt won with just six hits compared to 15 by Virginia.

Tyler Campbell continued his improbable breakout for the Commodores, doubling twice in the third inning. His second double came off reliever Whit Mayberry with the bases loaded to put Vanderbilt up 9-2.

But Virginia (52-15) chipped away, scoring three runs in the third, two in the fifth and another in the eighth to make it a one-run game.

Adam Ravenelle came on in the ninth to get the last three outs for his second save of the CWS

MLB

Rockies’ slugger to captain rest of NL in home run derby

NEW YORK – Jose Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays and Troy Tulowitzki of the Colorado Rockies will be the captains for the Home Run Derby at the All-Star game.

The event will be held July 14 at Target Field, the night before the showcase game in Minneapolis.

Bautista will pick the other four members of the American League team for the derby. Tulowitzki will invite four players for the National League side.

Bautista is a two-time major league home run champion. Tulowitzki has hit at least 25 homers in three of the past four seasons.

NBA

Nuggets see the return of a couple important role players

DENVER – Nuggets forward Darrell Arthur and point guard Nate Robinson exercised their contract options for the upcoming season.

Denver general manager Tim Connelly announced the news Monday.

Arthur averaged nearly six points a game for Denver last season and knocked down a career-high 24 3-pointers. The Nuggets picked him up in a draft-night trade last June.

Robinson scored 10.4 points and dished out 2.5 assists last year for the Nuggets before a knee injury on Jan. 29 ended his season.

Anthony to test the waters; Duncan will return to Spurs

NEW YORK – Carmelo Anthony “loves being a Knick” but is headed for free agency because he wants to explore his options, his agent said.

The All-Star forward had a Monday deadline to terminate the final year of his contract and had informed the team he would do so.

Anthony would have earned $23.3 million next season had he chose to play out the final year of his deal.

SAN ANTONIO — A person with knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press that Tim Duncan will exercise the option on his contract for 2014-15 and will return to play for the San Antonio Spurs next season.

Duncan turned 38 in April and won his fifth championship with the Spurs in June. That led to some speculation that he could retire after 17 seasons in the league.

Soccer

Solo seeking some hope with her not guilty plea Monday

KIRKLAND, Wash. – U.S. women’s soccer team goalkeeper Hope Solo entered a not guilty plea following her domestic violence arrest at her sister’s home in suburban Seattle.

Solo appeared in court Monday and was released without bail. She was ordered not to have contact with the alleged victims and to not drink alcohol.

Authorities say Solo was intoxicated early Saturday when she was accused of assaulting her sister and 17-year-old nephew. But her lawyer, Todd Maybrown, says she was a victim in the altercation.

Her next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 11.

Associated Press