Times wires
Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Marlins 6, Pirates 0

MIAMI — Josh Johnson pitched seven dominant innings and drove in the first two runs for the Marlins. Johnson improved his ERA to 1.00, has given up four hits or fewer in each of his four starts and has allowed a .112 batting average. The right-hander has never thrown a shutout in 108 career starts, and he was pulled by manager Edwin Rodriguez after throwing 98 pitches, 64 for strikes.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 19, 2011

TAMPA — A cliche in the playoffs is that special teams make the difference.

"Not in this series,'' Lightning coach Guy Boucher said. "We're losing the series right now, and we are clearly winning the special-teams battle, whether it's penalty killing or the power play.''

The Lightning has scored four power-play goals on 11 chances against the league's top-ranked regular-season penalty kill and killed all 15 of the Penguins' power plays.

Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said the Lightning is not using a power-play scheme it used the most during the season or one the Penguins extensively scouted. Bylsma also credited the Lightning with keeping its power play simple. "They've been real good at not being real fancy and getting pucks to the front of the net,'' Bylsma said Tuesday. "They are not particularly hard, wired shots, but just pucks in that area for tips or rebounds.''

What's hurting the Lightning is five-on-five play, where the Pens are outscoring it 6-2, excluding a Pens empty-net goal in Game 1.

"They're a little sharper around our net five-on-five than we are around their net,'' Boucher said. "We're not going to score five or six goals five-on-five against (Penguins G Marc-Andre) Fleury. Chances are he might let in one five-on-five, but if we do score one or two on the power play, it has to be enough at home to win a game.''

TALKING 'BOUT PRACTICE: The Penguins held a full-scale practice at the St. Pete Times Forum. The Lightning opted for a brief optional skate that included most of the defensive corps. Most of the Lightning forwards, including Marty St. Louis, Vinny Lecavalier and Steven Stamkos, did not skate.

A handful of Penguins players, including Fleury, did not take the ice; they had maintenance days. Captain and star Sidney Crosby, out since early January with a concussion, did skate, but his status has not changed — he still isn't allowed contact — and he is not expected back for this series.

MALONE SHOULD BE IN: Lightning W Ryan Malone suffered an upper-body injury in Game 3 but should be in the lineup tonight. "There's no indication that he won't play,'' Boucher said.

AHL Playoffs: Norfolk lost Game 3 of its series with Pens affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 2-1 at home but still leads the series 2-1.

MISCELLANY: Saturday's Game 5 in Pittsburgh is at noon and will air on Sun Sports and 970-AM. … The Lightning has won four Game 4s in franchise history and gone on to win those series all four times. It is 1-4 in series in which it has lost Game 4.

Times wires
Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Brewers 9, Phillies 0

PHILADELPHIA — Randy Wolf pitched six crisp innings, Ryan Braun and Casey McGehee homered and the Brewers beat up on Roy Halladay and the Phillies. Milwaukee became the first team to win a series against the NL East leaders this season and will try to complete a three-game sweep this afternoon.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Like father, (not) like son

A cute scene after a recent Lightning practice had G Dwayne Roloson teaching Marty St. Louis' 6-year-old son, Lucas, how to do the goaltender's butterfly crouch. It seems little Lucas might want to try his hand in net. "He's pretty good," Roloson said.

St. Louis, one of the league's premiere offensive players, said the career choice is okay with him. And St. Louis' wife, Heather, replayed a good-naturedly dramatic conversation she and her husband had about Lucas' future. "He said, 'Who am I to stand in the way of someone's dream,' " Heather said. " 'I had a dream once, too.' "

Cool breeze

The Lightning has brought in some heavy-duty dehumidifiers to help the ice at the St. Pete Times Forum hold up better during a time of year when the heat and humidity in the state start to rise.

Two temporary dehumidifying systems are each pumping 17,000 cubic feet of air per minute into the building.

Team spokesman Bill Wickett said the system takes outside air, cools it, filters it and sends it into the building with a relative humidity of 32 to 36 percent. That lowers the average humidity in the building 10 to 15 percent.

Number of the day

26.7 Average Lightning shots per game in the series, third-lowest in the playoffs entering Tuesday

Tickets

A limited number of club-level seats remain for Game 4 tonight. Several hundred potentially unused team tickets might be available through Ticketmaster in the afternoon (outlets, ticketmaster.com, toll-free 1-800-745-300).

The series

Game 1, Penguins 3, Lightning 0: Penguins G Marc-Andre Fleury wows.

Game 2, Lightning 5, Penguins 1: Lightning jumps on sluggish Pens early.

Game 3, Penguins 3, Lightning 2: Pens respond fast after Lightning ties it.

Tonight: at Tampa Bay, 7, Sun Sports

Saturday: at Pittsburgh, noon, Sun Sports

Monday: at Tampa Bay, TBA * #

April 27: at Pittsburgh, TBA * #

* If necessary # Sun Sports or FSN

Games 4 and 7 on 970-AM Games 5 and 6 on 620-AM

Quote to note

"It's playoff hockey. You've got some ups and downs. You win one game and you feel like you're going to win the series. You lose one game, you feel like you're not going to be able to win again. So for us it's about regrouping."

Lightning LW Simon Gagne

Times wires
Tuesday, April 19, 2011

RUNNING

BOSTON APPEALS FOR MARATHON MARKS

BOSTON — A day after Geoffrey Mutai won the Boston Marathon in 2 hours, 3 minutes, 2 seconds — the fastest time ever for the 26.2-mile distance — race officials said they will ask track's international governing body to certify his time as a world record even though the course is technically ineligible.

"Sure," Tom Grilk, the executive director of the Boston Athletic Association, said Tuesday. "Why wouldn't we?"

Mutai ran almost a minute faster than the record of 2:03:59 set by Haile Gebrselassie in Berlin in 2008. But Mutai's mark is a "world best," not a "world record," because the Boston course is too downhill and too straight to meet IAAF standards.

Fourth-place finisher Ryan Hall's 2:04:58 was the fastest ever for a U.S. runner; it is likewise ineligible to be recognized as the American record because the national governing body has similar rules to the international one.

TENNIS

Spain protests U.S. Davis Cup surface

The Spanish federation appealed to Davis Cup organizers over the U.S. choice of surface for the World Group quarterfinals. The federation said the company that makes the surface — better known as Indoor Hard Premiere — is not among 91 manufacturers approved by the International Tennis Federation. The U.S.-Spain match is scheduled July 8-10 in Austin, Texas.

MURRAY OUT: Fourth-ranked Andy Murray pulled out of this week's Barcelona Open because of an elbow injury. No. 5 seed Tomas Berdych (stomach) also withdrew.

PORSCHE GRAND PRIX: Anna Chakvetadze became ill and retired from her first-round match against Zuzana Kucova in Stuttgart, Germany, the third straight tournament she has had to quit because of dizzy spells. No. 5 seed and part-time Tampa resident Sam Stosur defeated Maria Martinez Sanchez 7-5, 6-1 to reach the second round.

ET CETERA

AUTOS: Richard Childress Racing signed NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Jeff Burton to a multiyear contract extension.

SOCCER: Police say that parcel bombs have been sent three times over the past several weeks to Celtic manager Neil Lennon and two high-profile fans of the Glasgow club. One package was destined for a Scottish lawmaker and the third for a lawyer who has represented Lennon. … New England acquired American national team midfielder Benny Feilhaber, who transferred from Danish club AGF Aarhus to MLS last week.

OLYMPICS: Britain's two major Olympic bodies settled the financial dispute that threatened to overshadow preparations for the 2012 London Games. The British Olympic Association dropped its legal case against the 2012 organizing committee, known as LOCOG, over its share of any surplus. In return, LOCOG waived rights to royalties and let the BOA buy extra tickets.

Times wires

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 19, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Rays manager Joe Maddon started with modest praise Tuesday about OF Sam Fuld, choosing the word "fearless" to best describe his style of defense and saying he reminded him most of former Angels and Cardinals star Jim Edmonds.

But when asked how Fuld's outfield play compared to that of former Rays All-Star, and 2010 Gold Glove winner, Carl Crawford, Maddon laid it on heavy.

"There's no dropoff," he said. "There's no dropoff. To say that right now, I would just be appeasing everybody. That's not true.

"Sam's playing that level of defense right now. He throws the ball better. And right now, all the different things he's doing defensively, I can't tell you that Carl's better. I can not."

Crawford, who signed a seven-year, $142 million deal with the Red Sox and is off to a brutal start, hitting .133, was considered among the game's best leftfielders for the past half-dozen years.

Fuld, acquired from the Cubs in the Matt Garza trade, is playing regularly for the first time and has a .368 average and seven steals in addition to his dazzling defense. In parts of three seasons in Chicago, he started 40 games and played more than two consecutive complete games once.

"Sometimes somebody just needs an opportunity …" Maddon said. "He's Sammy-on-the-spot. He just knows where to be. He positions himself well. He listens. He gets really good jumps on the ball. The closest thing I've seen in the past would be Edmonds. Edmonds was that kind of an outfielder: Sam's fast but he's not the fastest guy; Jimmy was fast but not the fastest guy, ran great routes. When the ball's hit, they're moving. That's always a sign of a good jump. He runs direct routes to the ball, none of these circuitous methods getting to the fly ball. It's textbook. And it's really fun to watch."

HANDY MEN: DH/LF Johnny Damon regained some movement in the left ring finger that was bruised in a Sunday bunt attempt and was feeling better after Tuesday's game, making a return tonight possible. … 1B Dan Johnson's left wrist, struck by a pitch Sunday, improved enough for him to take batting practice, but Maddon felt he was being "slightly tentative" and held him back another day.

J.P. DUTY: LHP J.P. Howell not only threw well in his final batting practice session before heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment, but he made the hitters look bad.

"I saw better. I saw 8-12 inches more fastball. I saw better life. I saw better command. I saw really good break on the breaking stuff," Maddon said. "The guys weren't swinging because he was freezing them, he was locking them up. The ball was moving that well."

Howell, coming back from May 2010 shoulder surgery, said he improves each outing, and Tuesday he was most pleased with his curveball. Also, he said, "a way more professional approach in terms of my mechanics that really creates a lot of deception for me."

Howell will make 10 appearances, starting at extended spring in Port Charlotte and working up to Triple-A Durham eyeing a mid May return.

LONGO MR. MAY? 3B Evan Longoria continues to progress in his recovery from a left oblique strain, but his goal of an April 29 return may have been too optimistic. Maddon said Longoria, out since April 2, could start a rehab assignment as hoped April 25 but would need to log about 20 at-bats over five to seven games, and with some rest, pushing his return into early May. "I love the fact that he wants to get back," Maddon said. "We want to make sure that he's well. You don't want to just go 0-60 and have him start swinging with no days off."

MISCELLANY: Home-plate umpire Vic Carapazza, a temporary fill-in from Triple A, is a Countryside High graduate and the son-in-law of longtime ump Richie Garcia. … The Rays scored a first-inning run for the second straight game after doing so once in their first 15.

Times wires
Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Orioles 11, Twins 0

BALTIMORE — Matt Wieters drove in four runs, Vladimir Guerrero hit a three-run homer and the Orioles snapped an eight-game skid. Jake Arrieta pitched six four-hit innings for Baltimore, which built an 8-0 lead by the fifth and coasted to its first win in 10 days after a 6-1 start. The Orioles set a season high for runs and scored all of them with two outs. Carl Pavano gave up seven earned runs in 42/3 innings after allowing one in his previous 16.

Times wires
Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Atlanta Falcons

Sept. 11 at Chicago, 1 p.m.

Sept. 18 Philadelphia, 8:20 p.m.

Sept. 25 at Tampa Bay, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 2 at Seattle, 4:05 p.m.

Oct. 9 Green Bay, 8:20 p.m.

Oct. 16 Carolina, 1 p.m.

Oct. 23 at Detroit, 1 p.m.

Oct. 30 BYE

Nov. 6 at Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

Nov. 13 New Orleans, 1 p.m.

Nov. 20 Tennessee, 1 p.m.

Nov. 27 Minnesota, 1 p.m.

Dec. 4 at Houston, 1 p.m.

Dec. 11 at Carolina, 1 p.m.

Dec. 15 Jacksonville, 8:20 p.m.

Dec. 26 at New Orleans, 8:30 p.m.

Jan. 1 Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

Carolina Panthers

Sept. 11 at Arizona, 4:15 p.m.

Sept. 18 Green Bay, 1 p.m.

Sept. 25 Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

Oct. 2 at Chicago, 1 p.m.

Oct. 9 New Orleans, 1 p.m.

Oct. 16 at Atlanta, 1 p.m.

Oct. 23 Washington, 1 p.m.

Oct. 30 Minnesota, 1 p.m.

Nov. 6 BYE

Nov. 13 Tennessee, 1 p.m.

Nov. 20 at Detroit, 1 p.m.

Nov. 27 at Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

Dec. 4 at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

Dec. 11 Atlanta, 1 p.m.

Dec. 18 at Houston, 1 p.m.

Dec. 24 Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

Jan. 1 at New Orleans, 1 p.m.

New Orleans Saints

Sept. 8 at Green Bay, 8:30 p.m.

Sept. 18 Chicago, 1 p.m.

Sept. 25 Houston, 1 p.m.

Oct. 2 at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

Oct. 9 at Carolina, 1 p.m.

Oct. 16 at Tampa Bay, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 23 Indianapolis, 8:20 p.m.

Oct. 30 at St. Louis, 1 p.m.

Nov. 6 Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

Nov. 13 at Atlanta, 1 p.m.

Nov. 20 BYE

Nov. 28 N.Y. Giants, 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 4 Detroit, 1 p.m.

Dec. 11 at Tennessee, 1 p.m.

Dec. 18 at Minnesota, 1 p.m.

Dec. 26 Atlanta, 8:30 p.m.

Jan. 1 Carolina, 1 p.m.

Dallas Cowboys

Sept. 11 at N.Y. Jets, 8:20 p.m.

Sept. 18 at San Francisco, 4:05 p.m.

Sept. 26 Washington, 8:30 p.m.

Oct. 2 Detroit, 1 p.m.

Oct. 9 BYE

Oct. 16 at New England, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 23 St. Louis, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 30 at Philadelphia, 8:20 p.m.

Nov. 6 Seattle, 1 p.m.

Nov. 13 Buffalo, 1 p.m.

Nov. 20 at Washington, 1 p.m.

Nov. 24 Miami, 4:15 p.m.

Dec. 4 at Arizona, 4:15 p.m.

Dec. 11 N.Y. Giants, 8:20 p.m.-x

Dec. 17 at Tampa Bay, 8:20 p.m.

Dec. 24 Philadelphia, 4:15 p.m.

Jan. 1 at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m.

Philadelphia Eagles

Sept. 11 at St. Louis, 1 p.m.

Sept. 18 at Atlanta, 8:20 p.m.

Sept. 25 N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m.

Oct. 2 San Francisco, 1 p.m.

Oct. 9 at Buffalo, 1 p.m.

Oct. 16 at Washington, 1 p.m.

Oct. 23 BYE

Oct. 30 Dallas, 8:20 p.m.

Nov. 7 Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

Nov. 13 Arizona, 1 p.m.

Nov. 20 at N.Y. Giants, 8:20 p.m.-x

Nov. 27 New England, 4:15 p.m.

Dec. 1 at Seattle, 8:20 p.m.

Dec. 11 at Miami, 1 p.m.

Dec. 18 N.Y. Jets, 4:15 p.m.

Dec. 24 at Dallas, 4:15 p.m.

Jan. 1 Washington, 1 p.m.

New York Giants

Sept. 11 at Washington, 4:15 p.m.

Sept. 19 St. Louis, 8:30 p.m.

Sept. 25 at Philadelphia, 1 p.m.

Oct. 2 at Arizona, 4:05 p.m.

Oct. 9 Seattle, 1 p.m.

Oct. 16 Buffalo, 1 p.m.

Oct. 23 BYE

Oct. 30 Miami, 1 p.m.

Nov. 6 at New England, 4:15 p.m.

Nov. 13 at San Francisco, 4:15 p.m.

Nov. 20 Philadelphia, 8:20 p.m.-x

Nov. 28 at New Orleans, 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 4 Green Bay, 4:15 p.m.

Dec. 11 at Dallas, 8:20 p.m.-x

Dec. 18 Washington, 1 p.m.

Dec. 24 at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.

Jan. 1 Dallas, 1 p.m.

Washington Redskins

Sept. 11 N.Y. Giants, 4:15 p.m.

Sept. 18 Arizona, 1 p.m.

Sept. 26 at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Oct. 2 at St. Louis, 1 p.m.

Oct. 9 BYE

Oct. 16 Philadelphia, 1 p.m.

Oct. 23 at Carolina, 1 p.m.

Oct. 30 Buffalo at Toronto, 4:05 p.m.

Nov. 6 San Francisco, 1 p.m.

Nov. 13 at Miami, 1 p.m.

Nov. 20 Dallas, 1 p.m.

Nov. 27 at Seattle, 4:05 p.m.

Dec. 4 N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.

Dec. 11 New England, 1 p.m.

Dec. 18 at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m.

Dec. 24 Minnesota, 1 p.m.

Jan. 1 at Philadelphia, 1 p.m.

Chicago Bears

Sept. 11 Atlanta, 1 p.m.

Sept. 18 at New Orleans, 1 p.m.

Sept. 25 Green Bay, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 2 Carolina, 1 p.m.

Oct. 10 at Detroit, 8:30 p.m.

Oct. 16 Minnesota, 8:20 p.m.

Oct. 23 Tampa Bay at London, 1 p.m.

Oct. 30 BYE

Nov. 7 at Philadelphia, 8:30 p.m.

Nov. 13 Detroit, 1 p.m.

Nov. 20 San Diego, 4:15 p.m.

Nov. 27 at Oakland, 4:05 p.m.

Dec. 4 Kansas City, 1 p.m.

Dec. 11 at Denver, 4:05 p.m.

Dec. 18 Seattle, 1 p.m.

Dec. 25 at Green Bay, 8:20 p.m.

Jan. 1 at Minnesota, 1 p.m.

Detroit Lions

Sept. 11 at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

Sept. 18 Kansas City, 1 p.m.

Sept. 25 at Minnesota, 1 p.m.

Oct. 2 at Dallas, 1 p.m.

Oct. 10 Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

Oct. 16 San Francisco, 1 p.m.

Oct. 23 Atlanta, 1 p.m.

Oct. 30 at Denver, 4:05 p.m.

Nov. 6 BYE

Nov. 13 at Chicago, 1 p.m.

Nov. 20 Carolina, 1 p.m.

Nov. 24 Green Bay, 12:30 p.m.

Dec. 4 at New Orleans, 1 p.m.

Dec. 11 Minnesota, 1 p.m.

Dec. 18 at Oakland, 4:05 p.m.

Dec. 24 San Diego, 4:05 p.m.

Jan. 1 at Green Bay, 1 p.m.

Green Bay Packers

Sept. 8 New Orleans, 8:30 p.m.

Sept. 18 at Carolina, 1 p.m.

Sept. 25 at Chicago, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 2 Denver, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 9 at Atlanta, 8:20 p.m.

Oct. 16 St. Louis, 1 p.m.

Oct. 23 at Minnesota, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 30 BYE

Nov. 6 at San Diego, 4:15 p.m.

Nov. 14 Minnesota, 8:30 p.m.

Nov. 20 Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

Nov. 24 at Detroit, 12:30 p.m.

Dec. 4 at N.Y. Giants, 4:15 p.m.

Dec. 11 Oakland, 1 p.m.

Dec. 18 at Kansas City, 1 p.m.

Dec. 25 Chicago, 8:20 p.m.

Jan. 1 Detroit, 1 p.m.

Minnesota VikinGs

Sept. 11 at San Diego, 4:15 p.m.

Sept. 18 Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

Sept. 25 Detroit, 1 p.m.

Oct. 2 at Kansas City, 1 p.m.

Oct. 9 Arizona, 1 p.m.

Oct. 16 at Chicago, 8:20 p.m.

Oct. 23 Green Bay, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 30 at Carolina, 1 p.m.

Nov. 6 BYE

Nov. 14 at Green Bay, 8:30 p.m.

Nov. 20 Oakland, 1 p.m.

Nov. 27 at Atlanta, 1 p.m.

Dec. 4 Denver, 4:05 p.m.

Dec. 11 at Detroit, 1 p.m.

Dec. 18 New Orleans, 1 p.m.

Dec. 24 at Washington, 1 p.m.

Jan. 1 Chicago, 1 p.m.

Arizona Cardinals

Sept. 11 Carolina, 4:15 p.m.

Sept. 18 at Washington, 1 p.m.

Sept. 25 at Seattle, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 2 N.Y. Giants, 4:05 p.m.

Oct. 9 at Minnesota, 1 p.m.

Oct. 16 BYE

Oct. 23 Pittsburgh, 4:05 p.m.

Oct. 30 at Baltimore, 1 p.m.

Nov. 6 St. Louis, 4:15 p.m.

Nov. 13 at Philadelphia, 1 p.m.

Nov. 20 at San Francisco, 4:05 p.m.

Nov. 27 at St. Louis, 1 p.m.

Dec. 4 Dallas, 4:15 p.m.

Dec. 11 San Francisco, 4:05 p.m.

Dec. 18 Cleveland, 4:15 p.m.

Dec. 24 at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Jan. 1 Seattle, 4:15 p.m.

San Francisco 49ers

Sept. 11 Seattle, 4:15 p.m.

Sept. 18 Dallas, 4:05 p.m.

Sept. 25 at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Oct. 2 at Philadelphia, 1 p.m.

Oct. 9 Tampa Bay, 4:05 p.m.

Oct. 16 at Detroit, 1 p.m.

Oct. 23 BYE

Oct. 30 Cleveland, 4:15 p.m.

Nov. 6 at Washington, 1 p.m.

Nov. 13 N.Y. Giants, 4:15 p.m.

Nov. 20 Arizona, 4:05 p.m.

Nov. 24 at Baltimore, 8:20 p.m.

Dec. 4 St. Louis, 4:15 p.m.

Dec. 11 at Arizona, 4:05 p.m.

Dec. 19 Pittsburgh, 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 24 at Seattle, 4:15 p.m.

Jan. 1 at St. Louis, 1 p.m.

Seattle Seahawks

Sept. 11 at San Francisco, 4:15 p.m.

Sept. 18 at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.

Sept. 25 Arizona, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 2 Atlanta, 4:05 p.m.

Oct. 9 at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m.

Oct. 16 BYE

Oct. 23 at Cleveland, 1 p.m.

Oct. 30 Cincinnati, 4:15 p.m.

Nov. 6 at Dallas, 1 p.m.

Nov. 13 Baltimore, 4:05 p.m.

Nov. 20 at St. Louis, 4:05 p.m.

Nov. 27 Washington, 4:05 p.m.

Dec. 1 Philadelphia, 8:20 p.m.

Dec. 12 St. Louis, 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 18 at Chicago, 1 p.m.

Dec. 24 San Francisco, 4:15 p.m.

Jan. 1 at Arizona, 4:15 p.m.

St. Louis Rams

Sept. 11 Philadelphia, 1 p.m.

Sept. 19 at N.Y. Giants, 8:30 p.m.

Sept. 25 Baltimore, 4:05 p.m.

Oct. 2 Washington, 1 p.m.

Oct. 9 BYE

Oct. 16 at Green Bay, 1 p.m.

Oct. 23 at Dallas, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 30 New Orleans, 1 p.m.

Nov. 6 at Arizona, 4:15 p.m.

Nov. 13 at Cleveland, 1 p.m.

Nov. 20 Seattle, 4:05 p.m.

Nov. 27 Arizona, 1 p.m.

Dec. 4 at San Francisco, 4:15 p.m.

Dec. 12 at Seattle, 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 18 Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Dec. 24 at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.

Jan. 1 San Francisco, 1 p.m.

Buffalo Bills

Sept. 11 at Kansas City, 1 p.m.

Sept. 18 Oakland, 1 p.m.

Sept. 25 New England, 1 p.m.

Oct. 2 at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Oct. 9 Philadelphia, 1 p.m.

Oct. 16 at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m.

Oct. 23 BYE

Oct. 30 Washington at Toronto, 4:05 p.m.

Nov. 6 N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.

Nov. 13 at Dallas, 1 p.m.

Nov. 20 at Miami, 1 p.m.

Nov. 27 at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.

Dec. 4 Tennessee, 1 p.m.

Dec. 11 at San Diego, 4:15 p.m.

Dec. 18 Miami, 1 p.m.

Dec. 24 Denver, 1 p.m.

Jan. 1 at New England, 1 p.m..

Miami Dolphins

Sept. 12 New England, 7 p.m.

Sept. 18 Houston, 4:15 p.m.

Sept. 25 at Cleveland, 1 p.m.

Oct. 2 at San Diego, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 9 BYE

Oct. 17 at N.Y. Jets, 8:30 p.m.

Oct. 23 Denver, 1 p.m.

Oct. 30 at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m.

Nov. 6 at Kansas City, 1 p.m.

Nov. 13 Washington, 1 p.m.

Nov. 20 Buffalo, 1 p.m.

Nov. 24 at Dallas, 4:15 p.m.

Dec. 4 Oakland, 1 p.m.

Dec. 11 Philadelphia, 1 p.m.

Dec. 18 at Buffalo, 1 p.m.

Dec. 24 at New England, 1 p.m.

Jan. 1 N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m..

New England Patriots

Sept. 12 at Miami, 7 p.m.

Sept. 18 San Diego, 4:15 p.m.

Sept. 25 at Buffalo, 1 p.m.

Oct. 2 at Oakland, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 9 N.Y. Jets, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 16 Dallas, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 23 BYE

Oct. 30 at Pittsburgh, 4:15 p.m.

Nov. 6 N.Y. Giants, 4:15 p.m.

Nov. 13 at N.Y. Jets, 8:20 p.m.-x

Nov. 21 Kansas City, 8:30 p.m.

Nov. 27 at Philadelphia, 4:15 p.m.

Dec. 4 Indianapolis, 8:20 p.m.-x

Dec. 11 at Washington, 1 p.m.

Dec. 18 at Denver, 4:15 p.m.

Dec. 24 Miami, 1 p.m.

Jan. 1 Buffalo, 1 p.m.

New York Jets

Sept. 11 Dallas, 8:20 p.m.

Sept. 18 Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

Sept. 25 at Oakland, 4:05 p.m.

Oct. 2 at Baltimore, 8:20 p.m.

Oct. 9 at New England, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 17 Miami, 8:30 p.m.

Oct. 23 San Diego, 1 p.m.

Oct. 30 BYE

Nov. 6 at Buffalo, 1 p.m.

Nov. 13 New England, 8:20 p.m.-x

Nov. 17 at Denver, 8:20 p.m.

Nov. 27 Buffalo, 1 p.m.

Dec. 4 at Washington, 1 p.m.

Dec. 11 Kansas City, 1 p.m.

Dec. 18 at Philadelphia, 4:15 p.m.

Dec. 24 Giants, 1 p.m.

Jan. 1 at Miami, 1 p.m.

Baltimore Ravens

Sept. 11 Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.

Sept. 18 at Tennessee, 1 p.m.

Sept. 25 at St. Louis, 4:05 p.m.

Oct. 2 N.Y. Jets, 8:20 p.m.

Oct. 9 BYE

Oct. 16 Houston, 4:05 p.m.

Oct. 24 at Jacksonville, 8:30 p.m.

Oct. 30 Arizona, 1 p.m.

Nov. 6 at Pittsburgh, 8:20 p.m.

Nov. 13 at Seattle, 4:05 p.m.

Nov. 20 Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Nov. 24 San Francisco, 8:20 p.m.

Dec. 4 at Cleveland, 1 p.m.

Dec. 11 Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

Dec. 18 at San Diego, 8:20 p.m.-x

Dec. 24 Cleveland, 1 p.m.

Jan. 1 at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Cincinnati Bengals

Sept. 11 at Cleveland, 1 p.m.

Sept. 18 at Denver, 4:15 p.m.

Sept. 25 San Francisco, 1 p.m.

Oct. 2 Buffalo, 1 p.m.

Oct. 9 at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

Oct. 16 Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

Oct. 23 BYE

Oct. 30 at Seattle, 4:15 p.m.

Nov. 6 at Tennessee, 4:05 p.m.

Nov. 13 Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.

Nov. 20 at Baltimore, 1 p.m.

Nov. 27 Cleveland, 1 p.m.

Dec. 4 at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.

Dec. 11 Houston, 1 p.m.

Dec. 18 at St. Louis, 1 p.m.

Dec. 24 Arizona, 1 p.m.

Jan. 1 Baltimore, 1 p.m.

Cleveland Browns

Sept. 11 Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Sept. 18 at Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

Sept. 25 Miami, 1 p.m.

Oct. 2 Tennessee, 1 p.m.

Oct. 9 BYE

Oct. 16 at Oakland, 4:05 p.m.

Oct. 23 Seattle, 1 p.m.

Oct. 30 at San Francisco, 4:15 p.m.

Nov. 6 at Houston, 1 p.m.

Nov. 13 St. Louis, 1 p.m.

Nov. 20 Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

Nov. 27 at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Dec. 4 Baltimore, 1 p.m.

Dec. 8 at Pittsburgh, 8:20 p.m.

Dec. 18 at Arizona, 4:15 p.m.

Dec. 24 at Baltimore, 1 p.m.

Jan. 1 Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Sept. 11 at Baltimore, 1 p.m.

Sept. 18 Seattle, 1 p.m.

Sept. 25 at Indianapolis, 8:20 p.m.

Oct. 2 at Houston, 1 p.m.

Oct. 9 Tennessee, 1 p.m.

Oct. 16 Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

Oct. 23 at Arizona, 4:05 p.m.

Oct. 30 New England, 4:15 p.m.

Nov. 6 Baltimore, 8:20 p.m.

Nov. 13 at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Nov. 20 BYE

Nov. 27 at Kansas City, 8:20 p.m.-x

Dec. 4 Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Dec. 8 Cleveland, 8:20 p.m.

Dec. 19 at San Francisco, 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 24 St. Louis, 1 p.m.

Jan. 1 at Cleveland, 1 p.m.

Houston Texans

Sept. 11 Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

Sept. 18 at Miami, 4:15 p.m.

Sept. 25 at New Orleans, 1 p.m.

Oct. 2 Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.

Oct. 9 Oakland, 1 p.m.

Oct. 16 at Baltimore, 4:05 p.m.

Oct. 23 at Tennessee, 1 p.m.

Oct. 30 Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

Nov. 6 Cleveland, 1 p.m.

Nov. 13 at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

Nov. 20 BYE

Nov. 27 at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

Dec. 4 Atlanta, 1 p.m.

Dec. 11 at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Dec. 18 Carolina, 1 p.m.

Dec. 22 at Indianapolis, 8:20 p.m.

Jan. 1 Tennessee, 1 p.m.

Indianapolis Colts

Sept. 11 at Houston, 1 p.m.

Sept. 18 Cleveland, 1 p.m.

Sept. 25 Pittsburgh, 8:20 p.m.

Oct. 3 at Tampa Bay, 8:30 p.m.

Oct. 9 Kansas City, 1 p.m.

Oct. 16 at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Oct. 23 at New Orleans, 8:20 p.m.

Oct. 30 at Tennessee, 1 p.m.

Nov. 6 Atlanta, 1 p.m.

Nov. 13 Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

Nov. 20 BYE

Nov. 27 Carolina, 1 p.m.

Dec. 4 at New England, 8:20 p.m.-x

Dec. 11 at Baltimore, 1 p.m.

Dec. 18 Tennessee, 1 p.m.

Dec. 22 Houston, 8:20 p.m.

Jan. 1 at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Sept. 11 Tennessee, 1 p.m.

Sept. 18 at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.

Sept. 25 at Carolina, 1 p.m.

Oct. 2 New Orleans, 1 p.m.

Oct. 9 Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Oct. 16 at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.

Oct. 24 Baltimore, 8:30 p.m.

Oct. 30 at Houston, 1 p.m.

Nov. 6 BYE

Nov. 13 at Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

Nov. 20 at Cleveland, 1 p.m.

Nov. 27 Houston, 1 p.m.

Dec. 5 San Diego, 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 11 Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

Dec. 15 at Atlanta, 8:20 p.m.

Dec. 24 at Tennessee, 1 p.m.

Jan. 1 Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

Tennessee Titans

Sept. 11 at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

Sept. 18 Baltimore, 1 p.m.

Sept. 25 Denver, 1 p.m.

Oct. 2 at Cleveland, 1 p.m.

Oct. 9 at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.

Oct. 16 BYE

Oct. 23 Houston, 1 p.m.

Oct. 30 Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

Nov. 6 Cincinnati, 4:05 p.m.

Nov. 13 at Carolina, 1 p.m.

Nov. 20 at Atlanta, 1 p.m.

Nov. 27 Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

Dec. 4 at Buffalo, 1 p.m.

Dec. 11 New Orleans, 1 p.m.

Dec. 18 at Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

Dec. 24 Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

Jan. 1 at Houston, 1 p.m.

Denver Broncos

Sept. 12 Oakland, 10:15 p.m.

Sept. 18 Cincinnati, 4:15 p.m.

Sept. 25 at Tennessee, 1 p.m.

Oct. 2 at Green Bay, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 9 San Diego, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 16 BYE

Oct. 23 at Miami, 1 p.m.

Oct. 30 Detroit, 4:05 p.m.

Nov. 6 at Oakland, 4:05 p.m.

Nov. 13 at Kansas City, 1 p.m.

Nov. 17 N.Y. Jets, 8:20 p.m.

Nov. 27 at San Diego, 4:15 p.m.

Dec. 4 at Minnesota, 4:05 p.m.

Dec. 11 Chicago, 4:05 p.m.

Dec. 18 New England, 4:15 p.m.

Dec. 24 at Buffalo, 1 p.m.

Jan. 1 Kansas City, 4:15 p.m.

Kansas City Chiefs

Sept. 11 Buffalo, 1 p.m.

Sept. 18 at Detroit, 1 p.m.

Sept. 25 at San Diego, 4:05 p.m.

Oct. 2 Minnesota, 1 p.m.

Oct. 9 at Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

Oct. 16 BYE

Oct. 23 at Oakland, 4:05 p.m.

Oct. 31 San Diego, 8:30 p.m.

Nov. 6 Miami, 1 p.m.

Nov. 13 Denver, 1 p.m.

Nov. 21 at New England, 8:30 p.m.

Nov. 27 Pittsburgh, 8:20 p.m.-x

Dec. 4 at Chicago, 1 p.m.

Dec. 11 at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.

Dec. 18 Green Bay, 1 p.m.

Dec. 24 Oakland, 1 p.m.

Jan. 1 at Denver, 4:15 p.m.

Oakland Raiders

Sept. 12 at Denver, 10:15 p.m.

Sept. 18 at Buffalo, 1 p.m.

Sept. 25 N.Y. Jets, 4:05 p.m.

Oct. 2 New England, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 9 at Houston, 1 p.m.

Oct. 16 Cleveland, 4:05 p.m.

Oct. 23 Kansas City, 4:05 p.m.

Oct. 30 BYE

Nov. 6 Denver, 4:05 p.m.

Nov. 10 at San Diego, 8:20 p.m.

Nov. 20 at Minnesota, 1 p.m.

Nov. 27 Chicago, 4:05 p.m.

Dec. 4 at Miami, 1 p.m.

Dec. 11 at Green Bay, 1 p.m.

Dec. 18 Detroit, 4:05 p.m.

Dec. 24 at Kansas City, 1 p.m.

Jan. 1 San Diego, 4:15 p.m.

San Diego Chargers

Sept. 11 Minnesota, 4:15 p.m.

Sept. 18 at New England, 4:15 p.m.

Sept. 25 Kansas City, 4:05 p.m.

Oct. 2 Miami, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 9 at Denver, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 16 BYE

Oct. 23 at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.

Oct. 31 at Kansas City, 8:30 p.m.

Nov. 6 Green Bay, 4:15 p.m.

Nov. 10 Oakland, 8:20 p.m.

Nov. 20 at Chicago, 4:15 p.m.

Nov. 27 Denver, 4:15 p.m.

Dec. 5 at Jacksonville, 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 11 Buffalo, 4:15 p.m.

Dec. 18 Baltimore, 8:20 p.m.-x

Dec. 24 at Detroit, 4:05 p.m.

Jan. 1 at Oakland, 4:15 p.m.

NFC South

NFC East

NFC north

NFC west

Afc east

Afc north

Afc south

Afc west

Times wires
Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Astros 6, Mets 1

NEW YORK — Wandy Rodriguez bounced back from a rough outing with seven sharp innings to lead the Astros. Michael Bourn and Carlos Lee sparked the offense as Houston won for the fifth time in nine games since a 1-7 start. The Astros have alternated wins and losses over those nine games. The Mets have lost 11 of 13.

Times wires
Tuesday, April 19, 2011

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said Tuesday that the $250,000 fine levied against coach Jim Tressel for violating NCAA rules might not even cover the cost of the investigation.

"It'll probably eat up the whole $250 (thousand)," Smith said. "I'm not sure. We haven't done any projections."

Declining to address the ongoing NCAA investigation into Tressel's violation, Smith also said he didn't know when Tressel's issues would be resolved.

Tressel has been suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season for failing to notify OSU officials of e-mails he received as early as April 2010 which said his players were selling memorabilia for money and tattoos from the owner of a local tattoo parlor.

Five players, including starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor, were suspended in December for accepting the improper benefits. The NCAA let them play in Ohio State's Sugar Bowl victory over Arkansas.

Tressel, in his 11th year with the Buckeyes, did not disclose what he knew about the violations until school officials confronted him in January.

Ohio State released a copy of Tressel's annual NCAA compliance form to the AP on Tuesday through a Freedom of Information Act request. All college coaches, officials and administrators must fill out the form; Tressel did so Sept. 13, certifying that he had reported any NCAA violations to superiors. Yet he had known for five months that the players had likely broken NCAA rules.

UMASS: The Minutemen will join Division I-A and play in the Mid-American Conference in football in 2013, a school official said. A news conference is scheduled today.

NAME CASE: A new state law ordering North Dakota to keep its Fighting Sioux nickname won't shield the school from penalties for using a name the NCAA considers hostile to American Indians, NCAA executive vice president Bernard Franklin told the school.

Golf: Big East tournament

The USF women finished third and the men tied for fourth after the third and final round of the Big East tournament at the Innisbrook Golf Resort's Copperhead course in Palm Harbor. The Bulls' Robby Carl tied for fourth at 217 after shooting 1-over 72 as the men finished at 895, tied with Georgetown. The women shot 934, led by fifth-place Shena Yang (76—225). Notre Dame swept both team titles.

Basketball

FSU, UCF IN HOLIDAY TOURNEY: Florida State, Central Florida and national champion Connecticut will be among eight teams in the Battle 4 Atlantis, a tournament Nov. 23-27 in the Bahamas.

COMING, GOING: Kentucky guard Doron Lamb will return for his sophomore season. … Northwestern forward John Shurna declared for the NBA draft but didn't hire an agent and can return to school if he withdraws by May 8.

KANSAS: Forward Thomas Robinson was cited with misdemeanor battery after a fight April 10 at a nightclub.

Times wires
Tuesday, April 19, 2011

MINNEAPOLIS — Carl Eller emerged from a seven-hour mediation session between the NFL and its locked-out players and let out a big sigh.

"Tough day," he said.

When a Hall of Fame defensive end and one of the most feared players of his generation gives that kind of evaluation, it's safe to say that the negotiations between the owners and the players aren't getting any easier.

The sides resumed court-ordered talks Tuesday after a three-day break, with no sign that an agreement is any closer. The lockout is in its second month and a federal judge is expected to decide soon on the players' request to halt the NFL's first work stoppage since 1987.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones joined NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Falcons president Rich McKay, Packers CEO Mark Murphy and owners Pat Bowlen of Denver and Jerry Richardson of Carolina on the NFL side on Tuesday.

Named plaintiffs Ben Leber, Mike Vrabel and Eller represented the group of current, former and future players who are asking for the injunction on the lockout and have filed an antitrust lawsuit against the league.

All declined comment at the end of the long day. The sides will meet again this morning in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan.

The talks are the latest step in the contentious fight over a new collective bargaining agreement.

Meanwhile, representatives of the NFLPA were invited to American University's Washington College of Law to answer questions from students about the lockout and the players' court proceedings, in part to explain the players' side of the story.

RB INGRAM '100 PERCENT': Former Alabama running back Mark Ingram says his left knee is "100 percent" healthy. The 2009 Heisman winner said he doesn't know where the reports are coming from that NFL teams are concerned about his surgically repaired knee. He had arthroscopic surgery Aug. 31, but missed only the Crimson Tide's first two games.

BENGALS: Quarterback Jordan Palmer is gathering offensive players for offseason workouts in California, assuming his older brother's role as the team leader. Starter Carson Palmer has threatened to retire if he's not traded.

Times wires
Tuesday, April 19, 2011

D'backs 5, Reds 4

CINCINNATI — Ryan Roberts, filling in for injured third baseman Melvin Mora, hit two of the Diamondbacks' four homers off Sam LeCure. Roberts had the second multihomer game of his career. Kelly Johnson and Chris Young also connected. The Reds have lost five of six, leaving them a game over .500 (9-8) for the first time since opening day.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 19, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — James Shields had been handling the pitching part pretty well heading into the ninth inning Tuesday night. And if he'd only taken a minute to talk with Dwayne Roloson when a half-dozen Lightning players came by the Trop on Saturday, he might not have been in the predicament he suddenly was: the chance for a victory, and a complete game at that, on the brink, the tying run on second and White Sox sluggers Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko looming.

"After being the worst hockey goalie in baseball and having the ball go through my five hole," Shields said, "I definitely needed to battle through those two guys."

Shields completed the job, striking out Dunn on three pitches and Konerko on five — hitting a surprising 95 mph during the at-bat — to seal a 2-1 win and earn his first complete game victory since May 2008.

"I wanted it really bad," Shields said. "I told Joe (Maddon) in spring training, one of my main goals is to get a CG this year. I think last year there were a lot of games I got taken out, and I told him I want the ball in the ninth. That's what I'm all about. I've been a workhorse since Day 1, and that's one of my main goals is to go as deep as I can in games. He showed a lot tonight leaving me in there, and obviously I got the job done."

Actually, Maddon said, there wasn't much of a decision, even with Juan Pierre on second after the infield hit and a bunt. Shields, 29, had thrown only 93 pitches through eight, was staying in his recently compacted delivery and had been in command of his pitches and control of his emotions.

"It was his game," Maddon said. "It was definitely Shieldsy's game. There was no way I was going to take him out of that."

Shields' final line for his sixth complete game overall, and fourth win: One run on four hits, a walk and a hit batter, nine strikeouts and 105 pitches total.

"He was just dead-on with everything he had tonight," catcher Kelly Shoppach said. "When he's that good you can call pretty much whatever and he's able to execute it."

Shields had help as the Rays (8-9) won for the seventh time in their past eight games before a Tropicana Field crowd of 13,731, nearly erasing their 0-6 start.

Ben Zobrist's first-inning triple led to the first run, and after the Sox tied it in the fifth, they came right back, Zobrist singling and Sean Rodriguez following with his MLB-leading third triple.

And there was more dazzling defense, Matt Joyce making a running, diving catch in right to rob Pierre of extra bases and Shoppach firing to first to pick off Konerko in the seventh.

But no one did more than Shields, whose rebound from his 15-loss, 5.18 ERA season has been thus far encouraging, with a 1-1, 3.07 mark through four starts. "Going into the season I felt really confident," he said. "Being able to put it together is definitely satisfying, there's no doubt about it. But this is a long season. If I can stay consistent with (my delivery) I'll be a more consistent pitcher."

One who, to even his surprise, can hit 95 mph along the way?

"He threw 95?" Shoppach said. "Oh my gosh. That means we have to hear about that (today)."

Times wires
Tuesday, April 19, 2011

ORLANDO — After the Magic's humbling Game 1 loss to the Hawks, coach Stan Van Gundy said that if his team cut down its turnovers and played better defense, he felt like everything would be fine in Game 2.

Orlando only fulfilled half of that equation Tuesday night, but it was enough to earn a win.

Dwight Howard had 33 points and 19 rebounds and Jameer Nelson added 13 points and eight rebounds to help the Magic hold off the Hawks 88-82.

The Magic evened the best-of-seven series, with Game 3 on Friday night in Atlanta.

Howard played all 48 minutes in Game 2 and took 19 free throws. He played 45 minutes in Game 1.

"It's tough," he said. "But you can't think about that while you're on the court. You can't think about any pains. You just have to fight through it. … As much as I get hit and beat on during the game, I just think about what we're trying to accomplish."

Orlando used a 10-1 run to close the third quarter to take an 11-point lead and fought off a late charge. The Magic struggled from the field, shooting just 34 percent, and had 16 turnovers.

But after allowing the Hawks to become the first opponent in 16 straight playoff games to score 100 against it in Game 1, the Magic's defense tightened in Game 2, and the Hawks shot 39 percent.

"It's not anything I did — our guys did it," Van Gundy said. "You gotta get out and take the challenge. … Every game sort of takes on a life of its own, and you just gotta do whatever it takes to get the win on that night."

Jamal Crawford led the Hawks with 25 points and Josh Smith added 17, but they missed 15 shots between them.

The Hawks had 15 turnovers as Howard floated in the paint. It seemed to disrupt the Hawks' flow and helped the Magic close out on jump shooters.

"That's what great defensive players do," said the Hawks' Al Horford, a former Florida standout. "They get out there, and it seems like they are everywhere. He does a good job of that."

Magic 88, Hawks 82

ATLANTA (82): Smith 8-14 0-0 17, Horford 4-11 2-4 10, Collins 0-1 1-2 1, Hinrich 4-12 0-0 9, Johnson 6-15 0-2 14, Powell 0-1 0-0 0, Crawford 8-17 6-7 25, Williams 1-6 2-2 4, Pachulia 1-3 0-0 2, Wilkins 0-0 0-0 0, Armstrong 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 32-81 11-17 82.

ORLANDO (88): Turkoglu 4-16 1-2 10, Bass 2-6 4-4 8, Howard 9-12 15-19 33, Nelson 4-15 5-6 13, J.Richardson 3-12 0-0 8, Anderson 3-7 0-0 8, Arenas 1-3 0-0 2, Q.Richardson 0-1 0-0 0, Redick 1-6 4-5 6. Totals 27-78 29-36 88.

Atlanta 22 20 12 28— 82

Orlando 16 32 17 23— 88

3-Point Goals—Atlanta 7-20 (Crawford 3-5, Johnson 2-3, Hinrich 1-4, Smith 1-4, Horford 0-1, Williams 0-3), Orlando 5-23 (Anderson 2-4, J.Richardson 2-5, Turkoglu 1-7, Arenas 0-1, Redick 0-3, Nelson 0-3). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Atlanta 49 (Horford 10), Orlando 64 (Howard 19). Assists—Atlanta 15 (Johnson 5), Orlando 9 (Turkoglu 5). Total Fouls—Atlanta 27, Orlando 21. Technicals—Smith, Orlando defensive three second. A—19,160 (18,500).

Celtics grab 2-0 lead against hurting Knicks

BOSTON — The Celtics pulled out their first two playoff games with big finishes. They want to play much better from the start next time.

"We were lucky to win," coach Doc Rivers said after a 96-93 victory over the depleted Knicks and Carmelo Anthony's 42 points.

Kevin Garnett sank the go-ahead basket with 14 seconds left then stole the ball with 4 seconds remaining as the sixth-seeded Knicks — without Amare Stoudemire (back) for the second half and Chauncey Billups (knee) for the whole game — gave the third-seeded Celtics all they could handle. Stoudemire expects to play in Game 3; Billups isn't so sure.

"I probably (have) never been more proud of a team and how they battled the circumstances," Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said, "how hard they played and how tough they played."

Rajon Rondo scored a career playoff-high 30 to lead the Celtics.

Anthony matched his career playoff high for points and set a high with 17 rebounds for the Knicks. Former Florida State standout Toney Douglas had 14 points in place of Billups.

"The Celtics didn't do anything special," Anthony said. "They won two games on their homecourt. Now it's our turn to go to our homecourt and try to do the same thing."

Celtics 96, Knicks 93

NEW YORK (93): Anthony 14-30 10-11 42, Stoudemire 2-9 0-2 4, Turiaf 1-3 4-4 6, Fields 2-4 0-2 4, Douglas 5-16 2-2 14, Carter 1-3 0-0 2, Walker 0-11 2-2 2, Jeffries 5-7 0-0 10, Sha.Williams 1-3 3-4 6, Mason 1-4 0-0 3. Totals 32-90 21-27 93.

BOSTON (96): Pierce 8-18 3-3 20, Garnett 6-16 0-0 12, J.O'Neal 1-3 0-0 2, Rondo 13-23 4-7 30, Allen 6-8 2-2 18, Davis 2-3 0-0 4, West 1-4 2-2 4, Krstic 0-0 0-0 0, Green 2-8 1-2 6. Totals 39-83 12-16 96.

New York 21 24 22 26— 93

Boston 23 21 30 22— 96

3-Point Goals—New York 8-25 (Anthony 4-8, Douglas 2-6, Sha.Williams 1-2, Mason 1-3, Fields 0-1, Walker 0-5), Boston 6-11 (Allen 4-4, Green 1-2, Pierce 1-3, Rondo 0-1, West 0-1). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—New York 65 (Anthony 17), Boston 47 (Garnett 10). Assists—New York 14 (Anthony 6), Boston 21 (Rondo 7). Total Fouls—New York 17, Boston 22. Technicals—Walker, Boston defensive three second. A—18,624 (18,624).

Mavs roll to 2-0 edge

DALLAS — Peja Stojakovic tied his career playoff best with five 3-pointers and had 21 points and Jason Kidd scored 18, powering the Mavericks to a 101-89 win over the Trail Blazers and a 2-0 lead in their first-round series.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 14 of his 33 in the final quarter for Dallas, which hadn't won the first two games of a playoff series since the 2006 NBA Finals.

Odom honored: Lakers forward Lamar Odom won the Sixth Man award as the league's top reserve, receiving 96 of 117 first-place votes and 513 points from the media panel to beat the Mavericks' Jason Terry (244 points). He is the first Laker to win the award, which began in 1983.

Around the league: Suns forward Grant Hill was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's board of governors for a three-year term, the first active player to earn a position. … Pacers point guard Darren Collison (sprained left ankle) expects to play in Game 3 against the Bulls on Thursday. … After being told Monday the Rockets will not retain him as coach, Rick Adelman said Tuesday that he was uneasy with the direction GM Daryl Morey and owner Leslie Alexander wanted to go.

Times wires
Tuesday, April 19, 2011

CHICAGO — Dave Bolland returned to the lineup after missing 17 games with a concussion inflicted by the Lightning's Pavel Kubina and had a goal and three assists Tuesday as the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks avoided being swept in their Western Conference quarterfinal, routing the Canucks 7-2.

Chicago's Patrick Sharp scored two power-play goals in a chippy final period that featured pushing, shoving, jawing and a fight between Vancouver's Kevin Bieksa and Chicago's Viktor Stalberg. The teams combined for 90 penalty minutes in the period.

The Blackhawks got an offensive lift from their defensemen as Brian Campbell and Duncan Keith scored 17 seconds apart in a four-goal second period. "We said before the game we're going to leave everything out there," said wing Michael Frolik, who had a goal and two assists. "We maybe helped our confidence for the next game. You never know what can happen."

Bolland played after missing the final 14 regular-season games and the previous three playoff games with a concussion sustained on an elbow to the head from Kubina on March 9. Kubina was suspended for three games.

Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo may have been shaken up making a save late in the opening period. He was pulled in the final period after giving up his sixth goal on 28 shots.

First Period—1, Chicago, Bickell 1 (Frolik, Bolland), 1:43. 2, Vancouver, Salo 1 (Edler, Raymond), 4:46 (pp). Penalties—Bolland, Chi (elbowing), 3:39; Keith, Chi (cross-checking), 5:37.

Second Period—3, Chicago, Campbell 1 (Kane, Crawford), 5:18. 4, Chicago, Keith 2 (Frolik, Bolland), 5:35. 5, Chicago, Bolland 1, 14:45. 6, Chicago, Frolik 1 (Bolland, Hjalmarsson), 18:57. Penalties—Vancouver bench, served by Torres (too many men), 3:06; Ehrhoff, Van (interference), 16:24.

Third Period—7, Chicago, P.Sharp 2 (Kane, Toews), 2:49 (pp). 8, Chicago, P.Sharp 3 (Hossa, Campoli), 13:21 (pp). 9, Vancouver, D.Sedin 4 (Ehrhoff, Kesler), 16:24. Penalties—Lapierre, Van (boarding), 2:14; Lapierre, Van, misconduct, 4:05; Hansen, Van (boarding), 4:05; Glass, Van, minor-misconduct (roughing), 4:05; Campoli, Chi (roughing), 4:05; Scott, Chi, misconduct, 4:05; Oreskovich, Van, misconduct, 7:58; Burrows, Van (roughing), 12:09; Toews, Chi (roughing), 12:09; Edler, Van (charging), 13:09; Torres, Van, misconduct, 15:25; Scott, Chi, misconduct, 15:25; Bieksa, Van, major (fighting), 16:20; Hjalmarsson, Chi (roughing), 16:20; Stalberg, Chi, major (fighting), 16:20; Johnson, Chi (roughing), 17:56; Lapierre, Van (unsportsmanlike conduct), 19:23. Shots on Goal—Vancouver 7-6-10—23. Chicago 13-13-9—35. Power-play opportunities—Vancouver 1 of 4; Chicago 2 of 6. Goalies—Vancouver, Luongo 3-1-0 (28 shots-22 saves), C.Schneider (4:05 third, 7-6). Chicago, Crawford 1-3-0 (23-21).

League stays with NBC, Versus in benchmark deal

The NHL is staying on NBC and Versus for the next 10 years with a TV deal commissioner Gary Bettman called the most significant in league history.

The league and the NBC Sports Group said the deal will run through the 2020-21 season. Media reports had the package worth a total of $2 billion. That would easily exceed the $120 million contract the NHL had with ESPN from 1999-2004, before it moved to Versus and NBC.

Versus and NBC have had separate deals, but they became part of the same family when Comcast absorbed NBC in January.

The NHL had drawn interest from ESPN, Turner and Fox but decided to stay where it has been since the end of the 2004-05 lockout. "When we looked at the entire package and the relationship, it was clear we were going to stay with the incumbent," Bettman said.

Under the deal, for the first time all playoff games will air on NBC, Versus or one of NBC Universal's cable networks, which include USA, MSNBC and CNBC, on which NBC has shown Olympic events. NBC and Versus will show 100 regular-season games per season, nearly double the number they aired this season.

rookie of the year finalists: Sharks center Logan Couture (32 goals, 56 points), Islanders right wing Michael Grabner (34 goals) and Hurricanes center Jeff Skinner (rookie-best 63 points) are the finalists for the Calder Trophy. They received the most votes from members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association. The winner will be announced at the league awards ceremony June 22.

Blackhawks: Defenseman Brent Seabrook didn't play against Vancouver, two days after taking a hard shoulder hit to the head from the Canucks' Raffi Torres, a hit many Blackhawks thought should have gotten Torres suspended. Coach Joel Quenneville said Seabrook has an upper-body injury. Torres, in his first game back after a four-game suspension for an elbow to the head of the Oilers' Jordan Eberle, was penalized in the second period Sunday for interference. The league said the hit was good and took no further action. Seabrook was examined for concussion symptoms between periods and played the third.

Ducks: Goalie Jonas Hiller was sent back to Anaheim as he works to recover from vertigo. Igor Bobkov replaced him in Nashville for tonight's Game 4 with the Predators.

Times wires
Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Royals 5, Indians 4

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Alex Gordon had two hits to stretch his hitting streak to 13 games and left-hander Bruce Chen pitched seven strong innings, leading the Royals on a night when the wind chill hovered near 30 degrees. Chen beat the Indians for the fourth straight time. He stretched his personal winning streak, dating to last season, to seven games over 11 starts. Joakim Soria pitched a shaky ninth for his fifth save in six chances.

Times wires
Tuesday, April 19, 2011

TORONTO — The Yankees are never more comfortable than when they hand a lead to Mariano Rivera. But even the best closer in baseball has the occasional off night.

The Blue Jays scored twice off Rivera in the ninth inning before outfielder Travis Snider doubled home the winning run in the 10th, beating the Yankees 6-5 on Tuesday night.

"That's all the inspiration we need as players is to see what we did in the ninth inning against Mariano," Snider said. "To be able to give ourselves a chance, to go out there and just have that shot, I'm very thankful for it."

Rivera suffered his first blown save in eight chances before the Blue Jays won it against Ivan Nova.

"We got it to where we wanted to, and we just didn't hold onto it," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.

Edwin Encarnacion opened the 10th with a single. After Jayson Nix and Yunel Escobar flied out, Snider doubled, scoring Encarnacion.

Jon Rauch pitched one inning for the win as the Blue Jays snapped a three-game losing streak and won for the first time this season when trailing after eight innings.

Jose Bautista hit a solo home run, his fourth, for the Blue Jays.

Mark Teixeira hit a two-run shot and Curtis Granderson added a solo drive for the Yankees, who lead the majors with 29 home runs.

Toronto trailed 5-3 to begin the ninth against Rivera, who hadn't allowed a run in 19 consecutive April appearances.

"Going in there, I had it in mind that everything was going to be fine," Rivera said. "(Tuesday) wasn't a good day."

Escobar led off with a double to center, took third on a grounder and scored on a wild pitch that was ball four to Bautista.

"I held the ball too long," Rivera said. "I wanted to go away, and it was way too away and ended up being a wild pitch."

Adam Lind followed with a single, putting runners on the corners for John McDonald, who drove in the tying run with a squeeze bunt up the first-base line.

Teixeira charged the ball and flipped to catcher Russell Martin but too late to get the sliding Bautista.

The rally snapped Rivera's streak of 171/3 scoreless innings in April, a run that stretched to April 30, 2009.

"That's the thing about Mo, he's not perfect, but he's close to it," Teixeira said.

Times wires
Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Angels 15, Rangers 4

ARLINGTON, Texas — Rookie first baseman Mark Trumbo homered and drove in four runs to back a solid start by fill-in Matt Palmer as the Angels handed the Rangers their first home loss this season. Maicer Izturis and Peter Bourjos also homered for Los Angeles, which has won 10 of 13 games.

Times wires
Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Giants 6, Rockies 3

DENVER — Jonathan Sanchez gave up two hits in 61/3 innings one night after Tim Lincecum flirted with a no-hitter, and the Giants spoiled Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez's return from the disabled list. Sanchez had a four-run lead before taking the mound thanks to Pablo Sandoval's three-run homer.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Rays vs. White Sox

When/where: 6:40 tonight; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg

TV/radio: Fox Sports Florida; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Starting pitchers

RAYS: RHP Wade Davis 1-2, 3.26

white SOX: RHP Phil Humber (1-1, 3.46)

Tickets: $9-$210 at Tropicana Field box office, Ticketmaster, raysbaseball.com, team store in Tampa, $3 surcharge within five hours of game.

Watch for …

Wading in: Davis earned a win in his last start without his usual velocity (and only one strikeout), which the Rays said was a good thing because it showed he was more of a pitcher. He is 2-1, 2.45 in three starts vs. Chicago, allowing only a .200 average.

Humble Humber: Jeff Niemann's former Rice teammate seems to have found a home with the Sox and showed it by beating the Rays on April 9 in Chicago. This is just his fifth career start over parts of six big-league seasons.

Key matchups

Rays vs. Humber

Sam Fuld 1-for-3

Felipe Lopez 2-for-7

Ben Zobrist 1-for-4

Sox vs. Davis

Juan Pierre 2-for-8

Paul Konerko 2-for-7

Alex Rios 0-for-8

On deck

Thursday: vs. White Sox, 6:40, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeff Niemann (0-2, 6.32); Sox — Gavin Floyd (1-1, 4.29)

Friday: at Jays, 7:07, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeremy Hellickson (1-2, 4.50); Jays — Brandon Morrow (0-0, 0.00)

Saturday: at Jays, 1:07, Fox Sports Florida. Rays — David Price (2-2, 2.83); Jays — TBA

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Birthday gift of the day

T.J. Andrews had to spend his 11th birthday as a patient at Tampa General Hospital's children's center, but the day got better when 3B Evan Longoria made a surprise visit — and brought along a Rays jersey as a present. Andrews is a baseball player and fan from Georgia recovering from burns suffered in an accidental explosion.

Numbers of the day

2.20 ERA of Rays starters over the past six games

4-0 Rays record in one-run games

Bolt of the day

The Rays will wear Lightning T-shirts and caps on their trip to Toronto Thursday night, manager Joe Maddon said, "to show support to the boys." And that's even though a few of "the boys" wore Twins caps when they attended Saturday's game as guests of Minnesota's Justin Morneau. "We forgive them because we wore Blackhawks stuff (during last year's playoffs)," Maddon said.