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Sports log: Rangers name Alain Vigneault new coach

NHL

The Rangers named Alain Vigneault to replace recently fired coach John Tortorella, just over four weeks after Vigneault himself was fired by the Canucks. In 11 seasons coaching Montreal and Vancouver, Vigneault, 52, is 422-288-96. Former Rangers captain Mark Messier, now a special assistant to president and general manager Glen Sather, was considered for the job. It is unknown if Messier will remain with the team. Tortorella, fired May 29 after a second-round loss to the Bruins, was offered the Vancouver vacancy, according to a Winnipeg Free Press report . . . Lindy Ruff, 53, signed a four-year deal to coach the Stars, 14 years after Dallas won its only Stanley Cup over the Ruff-coached Sabres. Ruff was fired Feb. 20 after 15 seasons behind the Buffalo bench . . . The Coyotes signed coach Dave Tippett to a contract extension, believed to be for five years.

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BASEBALL

Yankees’ Granderson has pin removed

According to MLB.com, Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson had a pin removed from his hand as he recovers from a fractured right pinkie sustained May 25 when he was hit by a pitch from Rays reliever Cesar Ramos. MLB.com also reported righthander Ivan Nova was scratched from his scheduled Triple A start Friday, and he could start for the Yankees Sunday . . . Indians closer Chris Perez threw a bullpen session that manager Terry Francona said went ‘‘very well’’ as the righty tries to come back from a strained right rotator cuff. Cleveland shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera took grounders and did some agility drills as he recovers from a leg injury . . . Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter was cleared to resume rehabbing a lower-back injury after the team got outside medical opinions about his comeback from nerve issues . . . Carlos Lee officially announced his retirement, ending his 14-year major league career, MLB.com reports . . . Hunter Renfroe’s three-run homer led Mississippi State to a 4-1 win over Oregon State at the College World Series in Omaha. The Bulldogs (51-18) will play UCLA in the best-of-three championship starting Monday. The Bruins (47-17) beat North Carolina, 4-1, behind Pat Valaika’s two-run double in the seventh.

TENNIS

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Federer, Nadal could play in quarters

Seven-time champion Roger Federer could face Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon — their earliest meeting in any Grand Slam. Andy Murray, seeded No. 2, could meet Nadal or Federer in the semifinal. Top seed Novak Djokovic faces a possible semifinal against No. 4 David Ferrer. In the women’s draw, No. 1 Serena Williams will open against Mandy Minella, while second seed Victoria Azarenka faces Maria Joao Koehler . . . American Jamie Hampton reached her first final, topping Caroline Wozniacki, 6-7 (8-10), 7-5, 6-3, at the Aegon International in Eastbourne, England. She will play Elena Vesnina, who beat Yanina Wickmayer, 6-2, 6-0. In the men’s semifinals, Feliciano Lopez beat Igor Dodig, 7-6 (7-3), 6-1, and Gilles Simon swept Andrea Seppi, 6-4, 6-3 . . . Simona Halep reached her second final in a week by defeating Carla Suarez Navarro, 6-3, 6-2, at the Topshelf Open in Rosmalen, Netherlands. She’ll face Kirsten Flipkens, a 6-3, 6-1 winner over Garbine Muguruza.

MISCELLANY

Miami bans backpacks at Heat parade

The Miami Heat will have a parade Monday to celebrate winning the NBA title, with city officials saying fans will not be allowed to carry backpacks. Several major events have not allowed backpacks or bags of a certain size after the Boston Marathon bombings . . . The Heat’s Game 7 win over the Spurs Thursday night drew an average of 26.3 million people, the second-most viewers for the NBA Finals on ABC . . . In the WNBA, Camille Little had 23 points and 10 rebounds and Tina Thompson scored 10 points in the final five minutes to lead the Storm over the San Antonio Silver Stars, 91-86, in Seattle . . . Diana Taurasi scored 31 points and Brittney Griner added 21 as the Phoenix Mercury beat the visiting Washington Mystics, 90-82 . . . New Jersey state police said a mechanical problem was to blame for the dirt-track crash that killed NASCAR driver Jason Leffler, 37, June 12 at Bridgeport Speedway in Logan Township . . . NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told the National Parent Teacher Association convention in Cincinnati the league accepts, and is taking, a leadership role in improving sports safety at all levels . . . Spain beat the United States, 4-1, in soccer’s Under-20 World Cup in Istanbul on two goals each from Jese and Gerard Deulofeu . . . A 2011 lawsuit accusing boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. of orchestrating a 2009 Las Vegas shooting was dropped June 12, court records show . . . Tyson Gay won the 100 meters at the US Track Championships in Des Moines, Iowa with a time of 9.75 seconds . . . Usain Bolt clocked in at 9.94 to win the 100 at the Jamaican championships in Kingston.

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