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WENGEN, Switzerland -- Patrick Kueng gave his home Swiss fans a lot to cheer about by winning the shortened Lauberhorn downhill Saturday. Rodger Saffold Rams Jersey. Kueng clocked 1 minute, 32.66 seconds down a course that had more than a minute of racing and signature features cut off due to strong winds, to earn his second World Cup victory -- and first in downhill. Hannes Reichelt of Austria finished second, 0.06 seconds behind, and overall World Cup leader Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway was third, only one more hundredth further back. "Its incredible," said Kueng, who is the fourth different Swiss winner in six years in the countrys signature sports event. "Its very special for me. I think its the best place to win a race." Reichelt said he lost crucial time in the bumpy s-turns into the finish area, though praised Kueng as a worthy winner. "(Patrick) was very consistent this season. It was just time until he got the victory," said Reichelt, adding wryly that he was "getting closer" after placing third last year. Erik Guay of of Mont-Tremblant, Que., who won the final training session Thursday, lost control after appearing to hit a bump midway down and skied off course. Bode Miller finished fifth, 0.35 back, after making a big mistake in the same spot that troubled Reichelt. Millers American teammate Jared Goldberg placed 12th with a starting number of 40. Lower-ranked skiers were still coming down. Kueng joined a Wengen winners roll that includes his more heralded teammates Didier Defago (2009), Carlo Janka (2010) and Beat Feuz (2012). Kueng, who turned 30 last weekend, is having a breakout season. He won a super-G in Beaver Creek, Colorado, last month for his first career win and has also recorded two fifths -- in the Lake Louise, Alberta, super-G; and the Beaver Creek downhill; and was sixth in the downhill in Val Gardena, Italy. "Hats off to Kueng, hes been skiing amazing this season. Its really not a surprise to the racers," said Marco Sullivan of the U.S., who was 16th trailing by 0.99. The course missed top sections -- including the signature Hundschopf cliff face jump -- that usually favour pure downhill racers, and became more suited to technical, super-G specialists. Svindal now leads two-time defending champion Marcel Hirscher by 82 points in the overall standings. In the downhill rankings, Svindal leads with 360 points, Reichelt is next with 260 and Kueng is third with 221. A slalom is scheduled for Wengen on Sunday, then the mens circuit heads to Kitzbuehel, Austria, for the famed Hahnenkamm races next weekend. Chris Givens Rams Jersey . - Russell Wilson is getting on the diamond again.Tre Mason Rams Jersey . Free agent John Axford, who had 46 saves for Milwaukee in 2011 but has struggled the past two seasons, agreed to a one-year, $4.The Kansas City Royals agreed to terms on a one-year contract Saturday with pitcher Bruce Chen. The deal also includes a mutual option for 2015. The itinerant Chen seems to have found a home with the Royals, for whom he has played since 2009. Last season, he made 34 appearances (15 starts), compiling a 9-4 record and a 3.27 earned run avverage.Torry Holt Rams Jersey. Chen has a career mark of 80-76 with a 4.49 ERA in 385 games -- 218 as a starter -- over 15 seasons with the Braves, Phillies, Mets, Expos, Reds, Astros, Red Sox, Orioles, Rangers and Royals. To clear room for Chen on the 40-man roster, the Royals designated infielder Emilio Bonifacio for assignment. ' ' ' |
