BASEBALL: Nats’ Zimmerman out 6 weeks
Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman needs surgery for a torn abdominal muscle and is expected to miss six weeks. He originally went on the 15-day disabled list April 12 with what the Nationals said at the time was a strained abdominal muscle.
* Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval broke the hamate bone in his right wrist and is expected to miss four to six weeks. Sandoval plans to have surgery this week.
GOLF: Watson shares lead in New Orleans
In Avondale, La., Bubba Watson made a 4-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole for a 2-under 70 and a share of third-round lead with Webb Simpson in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Simpson had five straight birdies in a 67 to match Watson at 12-under 204.
* In Valdosta, Ga., former Braves pitcher John Smoltz struggled in his Nationwide Tour debut, shooting a 15-over 87 after opening with an 84 in the rain-delayed South Georgia Classic to miss the cut by 27 strokes.
Andrew Giuliani, 25, also failed to make the cut in his first Nationwide event, shooting 77 and 73.
NASCAR: Kyle Busch denies Hamlin sweep
In Richmond, Va., Kyle Busch won at Richmond International Raceway to deny teammate Denny Hamlin a weekend sweep at his home track. It is Busch’s third straight victory in the spring race at Richmond and his second Sprint Cup win of the year. Hamlin settled for second, giving Joe Gibbs Racing a sweep of the top two spots.
COLLEGE: George Mason hoops hires Hewitt
George Mason hired former Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt to replace Jim Larranaga, who left this month for the University of Miami. Hewitt was fired by Georgia Tech last month.
* In Piscataway, Chas Dodd threw for 289 yards and a touchdown in Rutgers’ spring game to lead the Scarlet — composed of mostly first-team players — to a 31-14 win over the White.
ETC.: St.-Pierre wins UFC 129
In Toronto, welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre used his standup superiority to win his ninth straight fight, unanimously outpointing Jake Shields in UFC 129. St-Pierre, the 29-year-old mixed martial star from Montreal, improved to 22-2, receiving winning scores of 50-45, 48-47, 48-47 from the judges. Former light-heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida knocked out 47-year-old Randy Couture with a devastating front kick, ending the UFC’s Hall of Famer’s farewell fight at 1:05 of the second round.
* Chris Kreider started the scoring and the United States cruised to a 5-1 victory over Austria in its opening game at the world ice hockey championship in Kosice, Slovakia. Islanders goalie Al Montoya got the win.
* Islanders free-agent defenseman Radek Martinek was in stable condition at the hospital with an injury to his spine following a hit to the head during the Czech Republic’s win.