Times wires
Wednesday, April 20, 2011

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Suspended South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia's future with the program will be decided in the summer, coach Steve Spurrier said.

Spurrier, who said he has recently spoken with the former Jefferson High star, said athletic director Eric Hyman and university president Harris Pastides also will have input in the decision.

"We've all three given him guidelines, and we'll see how he follows those," Spurrier was quoted as saying on ESPN.com. " … Hopefully, it will work out that he'll be back with us with maybe a lot better attitude than he's ever had."

Garcia, who is on track to graduate in May, was suspended earlier this month for "unacceptable behavior." He has run afoul of Spurrier and the law several times in his college career.

If the quarterback does not return, sophomore Connor Shaw would be the starter.

Auburn trees case: A defense attorney for Harvey Updyke Jr., the Alabama fan suspected of poisoning the landmark trees at Auburn's Toomer's Corner, said prosecutors rejected a plea deal that would have spared him jail time.

Updyke made a brief appearance in Lee County District Court, where his attorney waived his right to a preliminary hearing. Attorney Glennon Threatt Jr. said prosecutors rejected what he called a "low-ball" plea deal to the District Attorney's Office on behalf of Updyke, who wore a crimson-colored tie to the hearing.

Updyke, 62, is free on bond. He is charged with first-degree criminal mischief in the poisoning of the trees, where Auburn fans celebrate victories by heaving toilet paper into the branches of the 130-year-old oaks.

Later in the day, Updyke told police he was assaulted shortly after leaving the courthouse.

Updyke said he was attacked when he stepped out of his car at a gas station on Birmingham Highway, according to Opelika Police Capt. Allan Elkins.

Updyke said he was punched in the head and believes there was more than one person involved, but he didn't see who did it. The gas station did not have surveillance video and there were apparently no witnesses.

Pace shooting: The parents of a Pace University player are suing the police officer who shot and killed him, calling the shooting an "unconscionable use of force." In a complaint filed in federal court in White Plains, N.Y., Danroy Henry Sr. and Angella Henry said Pleasantville officer Aaron Hess violated the civil and constitutional rights of their son, Danroy Henry Jr. Hess, was cleared of wrongdoing by a grand jury in February. Hess shot Henry through the windshield of Henry's car Oct. 17 as the 20-year-old drove away from a disturbance that spilled out of a bar.

Umass: The school says its football team, currently part of Division I-AA, will join the Mid-American Conference starting with the 2012 season.

Kentucky trio chooses draft, but not agents

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky freshmen Terrence Jones and Brandon Knight and junior DeAndre Liggins are heading to the NBA. Maybe.

The school announced all three have declared for the NBA draft but will not sign with an agent, clearing the way for them to return to school in the fall if they change their minds by May 8.

Jones and Knight are considered mid to high first-round picks, while Liggins is a defensive stopper who hopes to play his way into the first round after being evaluated by scouts.

Stetson: Former Belmont assistant Casey Alexander was hired as the new coach.

UCF sweeps UF: The UCF baseball team (24-14) withstood a grand slam by former Plant standout Preston Tucker and beat No. 5 Florida (28-10) 8-6 in front of a record crowd of 3,601 fans in Orlando. UCF swept the two-game season series.

Times wires
Wednesday, April 20, 2011

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball is taking the extraordinary step of assuming control of the Dodgers, a team increasingly paralyzed by the divorce of owners Frank and Jamie McCourt.

The franchise has been consumed by infighting since Jamie McCourt filed for divorce after 30 years of marriage in October 2009, one week after her husband fired her as chief executive.

Commisioner Bud Selig told Frank McCourt he will appoint a representative to oversee all aspects of the business and day-to-day operations. The New York Times reported Selig is strongly considering forcing the sale of the club by invoking his "best interests of baseball" powers.

The Los Angeles Times reported this week that Frank McCourt had arranged a $30 million loan from Fox, the team's television partner. The paper said the money was needed to make payroll.

Questions were raised about the McCourts when they bought the team from Fox in 2004. Frank McCourt borrowed all but $9 million of the $430 million purchase price, an unusually large amount of financing, but MLB approved the deal.

Though the Dodgers have generated considerable revenue, court documents revealed that from 2004-09 the McCourts—using the Dodgers and related assets as collateral—had racked up $459 million in debt.

BREWERS: RHP Zack Greinke pitched three shutout innings Tuesday in a rehab start for Class A Brevard County. Greinke, out with a fractured rib, is likely to need three more rehab starts.

GIANTS: 3B Pablo Sandoval was scratched after straining his right triceps and is day to day. Also, OF Cody Ross was activated from the 15-day disabled list and rookie 1B Brandon Belt was optioned to Triple-A Fresno.

MARLINS: LF Logan Morrison felt more soreness in his left foot a day after injuring it and had an MRI exam.

RANGERS: Minor-league RHP Eric Hurley has a mild concussion and a small fracture after being struck on the right side of a head by a one-hopper Monday.

TIGERS: RH reliever Joel Zumaya will delay right elbow surgery for six more weeks to see if he can pitch this season.

WHITE SOX: RHP Jake Peavy, who left Monday's Double-A rehab start after 15 pitches with irritation in his surgically repaired right shoulder, hopes to make another start next week.

YANKEES: RHP Phil Hughes felt good after a 30-pitch bullpen session, his first time on the mound since going on the disabled list with what the team called a "dead arm."

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

ST. PETERSBURG — RHP Wade Davis is making it tougher on hitters by taking it a little easier on the mound.

Part by design, part by the way he typically builds arm strength into a season, Davis is throwing with less velocity and getting more outs.

"Every year I come in after spring training and I've always been a little down, and toward the second half I always pick it up,'' Davis said. "And this year's a little different just because I'm trying to pitch a little more instead of just relying on stuff. My command's a lot better of the strike zone, I can attack hitters a lot easier being more relaxed.''

The decline isn't much, just a few miles per hour, as Davis is throwing his fastball in the 89-92 mph range. And the results have been good, as he's 2-1, 1.80 over his past three starts.

"Watching him out there, I can't really complain a whole lot about the results,'' manager Joe Maddon said. "The one thing we've been talking about with him a lot is staying in his delivery. And I think, okay, you can get 95 elevated in bad spots or you can get 92-91-90 in a good spot located with him staying in his delivery, which I also believe extends arm life, too. So as of right now, I'm liking what he's doing. I like the feel. He's using all of his pitches. He's pitching. He's not just out there throwing.''

After loading the bases in a 27-pitch first, Davis retired the next 10 and threw 72 over the next six innings.

DOWNHILL SLIDE: RHP Jeff Niemann makes his fourth try for his first win tonight making a concerted effort to make more use of the natural downhill plane his 6-foot-9 frame provides.

"It's everything," Niemann said. "When I get the ball up, everything flattens out. Every single one of my pitches become less effective. So for me, keeping the ball down and having that good quality angle allows me to get away with more mistakes. And my good pitches are better."

Maddon said he saw signs of Niemann's past success during his last start against the Twins, when he went seven innings, but not to the extent before Niemann went on the disabled list in August with a shoulder strain. In 10 starts since, Niemann is 1-7 with an 8.87 ERA. Before the DL stint, he was 10-3, 3.12, and 13-6, 3.94 the season before (a combined 23-9, 3.58).

"Physically, he's fine … everything's right,'' Maddon said. "He's just not throwing the ball where he wants to and he's not throwing the ball down like he did when he was very good last year consistently.

"If he's been doing all that stuff and he's struggling then you'd be a little more concerned, but he's not. He's off a bit. But I see him definitely making some strides in the right direction."

HANDY MEN: LF/DH Johnny Damon tested his bruised left ring finger with a few batting practice swings but felt too much discomfort, but was available to pinch-hit or -run. Damon, hurt Sunday, could return tonight. "He's doing a lot better, he just wasn't 100 percent," Maddon said. 1B Dan Johnson returned at DH after missing two games due to a sore left wrist.

J.P. DUTY: LHP J.P. Howell starts a planned 10-game rehab assignment with appearances for the extended spring team in Port Charlotte Friday and Monday, then with the Class A Stone Crabs April 28 and May 1.

MISCELLANY: OF Matt Joyce has multiple hits in six of his past nine games, batting .485. … C Kelly Shoppach and Damon presented certificates to nine Plant City High students who are captains of the Action Team, a program that encourages community volunteerism. … RHP James Shields became the first Ray to reach the 1,000 innings mark. The Rays are 4-0 in one-run games for the first time in team history.

Times wires
Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Orioles 5, Twins 4

BALTIMORE — Matt Wieters and Vladimir Guerrero homered, Adam Jones had two RBIs and the Orioles won their second straight after an eight-game losing streak. Baltimore led 5-1 after three innings, an almost insurmountable lead against a team that ranks last in the majors in runs. The Twins are the only club in baseball that has not scored more than five in a game this season. Wieters' two-run drive gave him six RBIs in two games. Guerrero homered for the second straight game.

Times wires
Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Marlins 6, Pirates 0

MIAMI — Former East Lake standout Chris Coghlan drove in three runs, two on a second-inning infield single, and Ricky Nolasco struck out eight in seven innings for the Marlins, who have won five of their past six. Emilio Bonifacio had two hits and scored from second on Coghlan's slow roller to highlight a four-run second. Pirates starter Charlie Morton was tagged for six runs in five innings, his ERA going from 1.64 to 3.33. The Pirates are 3-7 since April 9.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 20, 2011

TAMPA — Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said a big part of Wednesday's 3-2 double-overtime victory over the Lightning was his team's penalty kill.

Though Pittsburgh had the league's top-rated unit during the regular season, Tampa Bay had success in the first three games, going 4-for-11.

But Wednesday, when it mattered most, Pittsburgh held Tampa Bay's power play scoreless (0-for-4), including twice in the third period and once in the final three minutes of the first overtime. C Jordan Staal came up big in winning key faceoffs, and D Brooks Orpik blocked a team-high five shots to lead that effort.

"They didn't do anything different, so we knew what was coming," Orpik said. "We had a lot of blocked shots, a lot of guys sacrificing."

Lightning coach Guy Boucher said his players had time to shoot but Pittsburgh got in the shooting lanes.

"Our shots that got through the last game, the same exact shots got through," Boucher said. "It's a mixture of them blocking shots and us not aiming right."

STEPPING IN: Mattias Ritola and Blair Jones were preparing for a Calder Cup playoff game with AHL Norfolk on Tuesday afternoon when the centers got a call from the Lightning.

"Change of plans," Jones said, smiling.

In the wake of the one-game suspension of RW Steve Downie and some uncertainty surrounding the status of LW Ryan Malone (upper-body injury), Ritola and Jones were recalled to join Tampa Bay. Ritola was inserted in the lineup for Game 4.

Ritola, 24, had played in a career-high 31 games with the Lightning this season. This was his first NHL playoff game.

"It's awesome," Ritola said before the game. "It's great to be here."

Norfolk lost to Penguins affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 4-2 in Game 4 on Wednesday night, and the series is 2-2.

STEPPING UP: Boucher said he didn't have the words to describe the impact RW Marty St. Louis has had in the series. St. Louis' second-period goal, his fourth of the postseason, gave the Lightning a huge lift, pulling it within 2-1. He also had an assist on Sean Bergenheim's tying goal.

"We know (St. Louis) for them has been a guy who keeps it in and around the net, seems to be a dangerous guy every time he steps on the ice," Bylsma said.

Said Boucher: "He's just a machine out there."

NO WORRIES: Malone, injured Monday in Game 3, was back in the lineup, saying he felt okay. Malone said a reason he played less than two minutes in the first period Monday had more to do with a broken skate blade than the injury. He logged 11:12 of ice time Monday.

MISCELLANY: Blair Jones, D Randy Jones, D Matt Smaby and D Marc-Andre Bergeron were scratched. … C Sidney Crosby (concussion) participated in the Penguins' optional morning skate.

Times wires
Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Padres 5, Cubs 4

game 2

CHICAGO — Ryan Ludwick had three hits, including one of the Padres' three home runs, and San Diego split the doubleheader. The Padres took the lead in the second on Ludwick's two-run homer. Cameron Maybin extended it to 3-0 with a shot in the fourth.

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: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Probable starters

RAYS: RHP Jeff Niemann (0-2, 6.32)

SOX: RHP Gavin Floyd (1-1, 4.29)

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

Watch for …

Standing tall: Niemann's April 10 start at Chicago didn't go well as he was pulled in the third after allowing five runs, and he wasn't happy about it. He is 2-3, 4.18 in five games vs. the Sox.

Sleepy Floyd: April is usually a rough month for Floyd, though he was sharp vs. the Rays in that April 10 game, allowing only an unearned run over eight innings. Overall he is 3-1, 2.48 against the Rays.

Key matchups:

Rays vs. Floyd

Johnny Damon 11-for-19, HR

Casey Kotchman 2-for-12

Ben Zobrist 3-for-12, 2 HRs

Sox vs. Niemann

Gordon Beckham 5-for-8, HR

Paul Konerko 3-for-13, 2 HRs

A.J. Pierzynski 6-for-13

On deck

Friday: at Jays, 7:07, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeremy Hellickson (1-2, 4.50); Jays — Jo-Jo Reyes (0-2, 6.75)

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

Sunday: at Jays, 1:07, Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (1-1, 3.07); Jays — Ricky Romero (1-2, 3.12)

Monday: Off

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Quote of the day

"I feel like I should be a Band-Aid spokesperson; I'm keeping them in business."

OF Sam Fuld, given all the cuts and scrapes from his reckless catches

A pitcher and a puppet

There's not much to say about this photo of ace LHP David Price overly enjoying the DJ Kitty Hand Puppet before taping a promo spot for the July 3 giveaway. Said manager Joe Maddon: "He's the right guy."

Number of the day

2 Teams, of the 44 since 1900 that started a season 0-6, to get back to .500 in April: the 1991 Mariners and the 2011 Rays.

Times staff and wires
Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Soccer

Ronaldo ends Real Madrid's drought

VALENCIA, Spain — Cristiano Ronaldo headed home the winner in extra time as Real Madrid ended an 18-year Copa del Rey trophy drought with a 1-0 victory over rival Barcelona on Wednesday.

Ronaldo guided Angel Di Maria's 103rd-minute pass back across goal and past goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto into the top corner as Madrid won silverware for the first time since a 2007 Spanish league title.

"We are very happy, Madrid had not won this cup for many years," said Ronaldo, who gave Madrid its 18th domestic cup and also ended a six-game winless run against Barcelona, which lost for only the 10th time in its 35th final appearance.

Coach Jose Mourinho bowed before King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia as he received his minitrophy, while goalkeeper Casillas hugged the pair before using the king as support to climb up on a support and hoist the trophy high.

The teams meet again April 27 for the first of a two-legged Champions League semifinal series.

Man U most valuable: Manchester United, owned by the Bucs' Glazer family, has been ranked soccer's most valuable team by Forbes magazine for the seventh year in a row. Taking into account income, profitability and debt levels, Forbes said United's value rose to $1.9 billion. Real Madrid, Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Barcelona round out the top five.

Tennis

Nadal rolls, backs Spain's appeal

Men's No. 1 Rafael Nadal opened his bid for a sixth Barcelona Open title with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Daniel Gimeno-Traver, then threw his support behind the Spanish federation's appeal over the United States' choice of playing surface for the Davis Cup quarterfinal.

Nadal said the surface, called Indoor Hard Premiere, was unknown to him and his teammates. The Spanish federation says the company that makes the surface is not on the list of 91 manufacturers approved by the International Tennis Federation.

"If … (the surface) is not among the official ones, it should be ruled out or stiff fines should be applied, because for tournaments like that $50,000 is peanuts," Nadal said.

Horse

Breeders' Cup to defray travel costs

Breeders' Cup officials said they will pick up the travel tab for the winners of the 68 "win-and-in" races for the Nov. 4-5 world championships at Churchill Downs in Kentucky. The series will include the first challenge races in Argentina and Japan, and the winners of the Haskell Invitational, Hollywood Gold Cup and Jockey Club Gold Cup will automatically qualify for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic.

More horses: Trainer Kathleen O'Connell said she plans to enter Tampa Bay Derby winner Watch Me Go in the Kentucky Derby on May 7 if the colt, ranked 21st at $235,000, qualifies through graded earnings. The field is capped at 20 starters, but several horses higher on the list are not expected to run.

ET CETERA

Autos: Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone insisted that F1 is not for sale, brushing off Sky News reports that Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. is interested in taking over the sport. "It is all rubbish," Ecclestone told British newspaper The Times.

Boxing: Heavyweights Wladimir Klitschko (IBF and WBO champ) and David Haye (WBA) agreed to the final detail of their long-awaited title bout, selecting Hamburger SV's soccer stadium in Hamburg, Germany for the July 2 fight.

Don Jensen, Times correspondent; Times wires

Times wires
Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Yankees 6, Blue Jays 2

TORONTO — Bartolo Colon pitched into the seventh for his first win in two years, lifting the Yankees. Curtis Granderson homered for New York, which won for the fifth time in seven games and remains the only major-league team not to lose consecutive games this season. Colon won for the first time since May 26, 2009, when he led the White Sox to a 4-2 victory over the Angels.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 20, 2011

TAMPA — Any goalie who hopes to be successful in the postseason needs to have selective amnesia. Lightning goalie Dwayne Roloson needs to have that now more than ever after giving up a goal he would love to have back — the goal that turned out to be the winner in Pittsburgh's 3-2 double-overtime victory in Game 4 Wednesday night.

A little more than three minutes into the second overtime, Pittsburgh's James Neal wristed an unscreened shot from a bad angle that sneaked past Roloson's glove and into the net, giving the Penguins a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

"It just knuckled and goes off my glove, crossbar and in," Roloson said. "It's just one of those things that happens, a traditional playoff (overtime) goal. It's ugly. That's what happens when you put pucks on net."

Moments earlier, Neal tried a similar shot that missed the net. The second time, Roloson admitted, caught him "a little" by surprise.

"I saw it last second," said Roloson, who said he would not make excuses for the goal he believes he should have had.

"I'm sure he wasn't happy with the last goal, like any goalie," Lightning coach Guy Boucher said. "A shot from no angle with no screen. I'm sure he's not happy about it. But he will rebound from it."

Roloson's night didn't start off much better than it ended. Just 8 minutes, 14 seconds into the game, Pittsburgh's Tyler Kennedy took a shot from the left faceoff circle. While Roloson was initially screened, it appeared he had an open look at Kennedy's wrister. Still, the puck managed to squeeze past Roloson's blocker and into the net.

Immediately, Roloson dropped to the ice and angrily shrugged, indicating that he felt he should have made the save.

He allowed a rebound goal to Pittsburgh's Arron Asham early in the second, but after that, Roloson was perfect, making huge save after huge save and biding time until the Lightning could rally.

But as good as Roloson was as the Lightning mounted its comeback and sent the game to overtime, he was even better in the extra time. Early in the first overtime, Roloson stoned Craig Adams on a shot from just outside the crease. Then he made a left-pad save on Asham on a Penguins 2-on-1.

"Roli played just a great game," Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier said.

In the end, Roloson made 50 saves. However, his outstanding goaltending only extended the game long enough for Neal to score the goal that ended the Lightning's night and soured Roloson's as well. But only temporarily.

"You got to have amnesia," Roloson said. "I've been saying that all along. You just have to forget it and move on."

Times wires
Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Diamondbacks 3, Reds 1

CINCINNATI — Ian Kennedy overcame a nasty spill while pitching into the sixth, and the Diamondbacks dropped the defending NL Central champion Reds to .500 for the first time since May 8. Kennedy got his right leg knocked out from under him by a grounder in the fifth but stayed in to lead Arizona to its third straight win. He also had an RBI groundout off former Hernando High standout Bronson Arroyo.

Times wires
Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Astros 4, Mets 3

NEW YORK — Hunter Pence hit a blistering go-ahead home run in the eighth inning, and the Astros used two smart fielding plays late to ensure a win that dropped the Mets to 1-8 at Citi Field, their worst home start ever. Houston reliever Jose Valdez made a sweeping tag at home to end New York's eighth-inning rally. In the ninth, after Jose Reyes got his fourth hit, Josh Thole popped up a bunt and closer Brandon Lyon threw to first for the double play.

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

ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays' 0-6 start lent itself to many adjectives at the time, from the more refined, such as abysmal and calamitous, to some more basic, such as horrid, terrible and awful.

But Wednesday, the Rays called it even.

A 4-1 win over the White Sox got them to the .500 mark at 9-9, just the second of the 44 modern-day teams that lost their first six to get even in the month of April and the 12th to get there at any point of the season.

"The fact that we're back to that level, that's great. I love it," manager Joe Maddon said. "But our goal is well beyond .500."

Of course it is. But given where they stood less than two weeks ago, and given how they've played without Evan Longoria, without Manny Ramirez and, recently, without Johnny Damon, it's an accomplishment. As is becoming the first team to start 1-8 and then go 8-1.

"That's a great feeling after the tough start that we had," outfielder Matt Joyce said. "That's really a testament to the talent on this team. … The biggest thing was not panicking. I think a lot of managers and a lot of teams would really hit the panic button, but Joe's as calm as they come. I can't say enough about how great he's been."

Wednesday's win, like so many of the nine in their past 12 games, was a team effort.

A solid start, seven innings from Wade Davis, who worked out of whatever trouble he got into. Quality relief work, 1-2-3 innings by Joel Peralta and Kyle Farnsworth, who converted his fourth save in four chances. Clutch hitting, a two-run homer from John Jaso and RBI doubles by Casey Kotchman and Joyce.

And their daily dose of dazzling defense.

Sam Fuld roamed the outfield to make two more big running catches in left, one with the bases loaded in the first. Shortstop Reid Brignac went deep in the hole again. Kotchman scooped several throws at first.

But the highlight came from Joyce, who made a running, jumping, over-the-shoulder catch a step from the rightfield wall to save two runs in the fifth.

"It's all over the place, it's very contagious," Maddon said. "We have to be that kind of defensive team to win this division again."

Joyce had a harder time describing the play than making it. "I'm just happy I caught it," he said. "I told Sam I've been watching him and he's been rubbing off on me."

Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski, whose frustration was capped with a sixth-inning ejection, marveled as well. "I don't know how the guy got there to catch that ball," he said.

Maddon said the key to the turnaround has been a grind-it-out approach, mixed with the tremendous defense and quality starting pitching. From here, he wants the Rays to focus on winning series and build their record incrementally, getting to five over .500, then 10, then 15.

For now, he'll take being even.

"It's great to get back," Maddon said. "You look up in the morning, you look at the paper you see that, nice feeling. But that's not the kind of nice feeling that gets you into the playoffs."

It's not, but here's something: Of the 44 teams that started 0-6, two — the 1974 Pirates and 1995 Reds — did make the playoffs.

Times wires
Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Then Jason Chimera scored with 7:24 left in the second overtime to give them a 4-3 victory over the Rangers on Wednesday and a 3-1 series lead.

New York scored three times in the second, including seven seconds apart by Marian Gaborik and Brandon Dubinsky, and seemed poised to head back to Washington all even in the series. After all, New York was the only team this season to be perfect when leading after two periods (29-0).

But Alexander Semin started Washington's rally, and Marcus Johansson scored the next two to force overtime.

And now the top-seeded Capitals can eliminate the Rangers on Saturday at home, where they won the series' first two games.

The game ended suddenly. When a loose puck, seemingly harmless, drifted into the left circle, Rangers goalie Henrik Lund­qvist came out to play it. But before he could fall on it, Gaborik poked it right to Chimera, who was behind Lundqvist, for the easy goal.

First Period—None. Penalties—Boyle, NYR (goaltender interference), 7:07; B.Gordon, Was (tripping), 9:46; Sturm, Was (interference), 16:21; Boyle, NYR (goaltender interference), 18:55; Ovechkin, Was (interference), 19:58.

Second Period—1, N.Y. Rangers, Anisimov 1 (Drury, Sauer), 5:24. 2, N.Y. Rangers, Gaborik 1 (Fedotenko, Dubinsky), 13:40. 3, N.Y. Rangers, Dubinsky 2 (Fedotenko), 13:47. Penalties—Green, Was (tripping), 2:56; Semin, Was (boarding), 19:16.

Third Period—4, Washington, Semin 2, 2:47. 5, Washington, Johansson 1 (Laich, Green), 3:44. 6, Washington, Johansson 2 (Carlson, Alzner), 12:07. Penalties—Avery, NYR (slashing), 10:03; B.Gordon, Was (tripping), 12:48.

First Overtime—None. Penalties—Stepan, NYR (delay of game), 14:44.

Second Overtime—7, Washington, Chimera 2, 12:36. Penalties—Washington bench, served by Ovechkin (too many men), 5:21. Shots on Goal—Washington 10-12-13-13-5—53. N.Y. Rangers 6-13-7-9-4—39. Power-play opportunities—Washington 0 of 4; N.Y. Rangers 0 of 7. Goalies—Washington, Neuvirth 3-1-0 (39 shots-36 saves). N.Y. Rangers, Lundqvist 1-3-0 (53-49). A—18,200 (18,200).

Miller's shutout helps Sabres tie series at 2

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Ryan Miller made 32 saves for his second shutout of the playoffs as the Sabres beat the Flyers 1-0 to even their series at 2.

Jason Pominville scored 9:38 into the game for Buffalo, which also won the series opener 1-0.

The Flyers lost their leading scorer, Jeff Carter, to an apparent knee injury. Carter, who had 36 goals during the regular season, left with 2:12 left in the first. He did not return, and his status was unknown.

The soldout crowd was on its feet cheering Miller's best stop with 8:50 left. That's when the Sabres failed to clear the zone and Danny Briere was alone in front of the net. Briere, the former Sabres co-captain, spun, settled the puck, avoided the goalie's poke check then snapped off a solid shot only to be robbed by Miller's glove.

Miller was just as sharp about four minutes later by reaching back with his stick to prevent Mike Richards from slipping in a shot into the open left side after a scramble in front. That stop got the crowd chanting, "Ry-an Mil-ler! Ry-an Mil-ler!"

First Period—1, Buffalo, Pominville 1 (Niedermayer, Ennis), 9:38. Penalties—Weber, Buf (tripping), 5:55; Carcillo, Phi (interference), 10:18; Stafford, Buf (interference), 10:59; Boucher, Phi, served by Briere (tripping), 14:23.

Second Period—None. Penalties—Carcillo, Phi (roughing), 11:39; Miller, Buf, served by Gerbe (roughing), 11:39; Myers, Buf (roughing), 14:19; Philadelphia bench, served by Carcillo (too many men), 17:46; Richards, Phi, major (elbowing), 19:57.

Third Period—None. Penalties—Timonen, Phi (slashing), 20:00; Richards, Phi (roughing), 20:00; Gerbe, Buf (cross-checking), 20:00; Myers, Buf (roughing), 20:00. Shots on Goal—Philadelphia 11-10-11—32. Buffalo 13-8-8—29. Power-play opportunities—Philadelphia 0 of 3; Buffalo 0 of 4. Goalies—Philadelphia, Boucher 2-1-0 (29 shots-28 saves). Buffalo, Miller 2-2-0 (32-32). A—18,690 (18,690).

Ducks get three early in third to even series

NASHVILLE — Corey Perry's short-handed goal 1:17 into the third started a three-goal barrage that gave the Ducks a 6-3 victory over the Predators and a 2-2 series tie.

Tied at 3, the Ducks scored the goals over the first 6:46. Perry, the league's only 50-goal scorer during the regular season, starting it with a backhander from the right circle past Pekka Rinne. Perry set up Ryan Getzlaf's goal at 4:51. Then Brandon McMillan scored to chase Rinne.

Nashville also lost wing Martin Erat, who scored 17 goals in the regular season, in the second after a collision with Anaheim's Jarkko Ruutu. Erat, who lost four teeth in Game 2, lay on the ice for a few minutes and went straight to the locker room. He did not return, and the team said only it was an upper-body injury. Ruutu was called for interference on the play.

First Period—1, Anaheim, Fowler 1 (Perry), 4:41 (pp). 2, Anaheim, Koivu 1 (Blake), 5:14. 3, Nashville, Hornqvist 2 (Kostitsyn, Weber), 5:45. Penalties—O'Brien, Nas (boarding), 4:07; Suter, Nas (slashing), 9:10; Sutton, Ana (tripping), 13:03; Weber, Nas (slashing), 20:00.

Second Period—4, Nashville, Ward 2 (Franson, Sullivan), 5:44 (pp). 5, Anaheim, Selanne 5 (Getzlaf, Fowler), 11:41 (pp). 6, Nashville, Halischuk 1 (Klein, Blum), 14:15. Penalties—Sbisa, Ana (interference), 1:59; Ruutu, Ana (interference), 4:00; Ward, Nas, double minor (high-sticking), 7:59; Getzlaf, Ana (hooking), 15:40; Bonino, Ana (delay of game), 19:28.

Third Period—7, Anaheim, Perry 2 (McMillan), 1:17 (sh). 8, Anaheim, Getzlaf 2 (Perry), 4:51. 9, Anaheim, McMillan 1 (Marchant, Visnovsky), 6:46. Penalties—Tootoo, Nas (roughing), 15:39; Tootoo, Nas, misconduct-game misconduct, 18:12. Shots on Goal—Anaheim 16-9-13—38. Nashville 12-7-3—22. Power-play opportunities—Anaheim 2 of 6; Nashville 1 of 5. Goalies—Anaheim, Emery 2-1-0 (22 shots-19 saves). Nashville, Rinne 2-2-0 (29-23), Lindback (6:46 third, 9-9). A—17,113 (17,113).

Around the league: Capitals wing Mike Knuble sat out Wednesday's game with an undisclosed injury. … Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook, who missed Game 4 with an upper-body injury, traveled to Vancouver. Coach Joel Quenneville said only there was a "possibility" he could play tonight.

Late Wednesday

LOS ANGELES — Devin Setoguchi scored 3:09 into overtime to give the Sharks a 6-5 win over the Kings. San Jose trailed 4-0 in the second, becoming the fourth team in playoff history to overcome a deficit of four or more.

"It's crazy. But before the game, I was looking at the TV. It was one of those History Will Be Made commercials by the NHL," Setoguchi said. "It was about the Kings coming back from 5-0 (to beat the Oilers 6-5 in overtime on April 10, 1982)."

The previous comeback came April 28, 1985, when the North Stars, down 4-0, beat the Blackhawks 5-4 in overtime. The other came April 28, 1971, when the Canadiens, down 5-1, defeated the Bruins 7-5.

Times wires
Wednesday, April 20, 2011

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Guard Manu Ginobili scored 17 in the All-Star's return after missing Game 1 with an elbow sprain, and the Spurs beat the Grizzlies 93-87 Wednesday night to even the first-round series.

Ginobili wore a thick sleeve to protect his right elbow but played as physically reckless as usual. He stayed questionable until just before tipoff, yet even with Ginobili, the top-seeded Spurs didn't have it easy.

Sam Young led Memphis with 17 points. The Grizzlies opened the series with a stunner for their first franchise playoff win, and a 2-0 lead seemed possible in the final seconds Wednesday. Young's 3 with 14.9 seconds left made it 89-87 before George Hill sealed the win at the free-throw line.

Game 3 is Saturday in Memphis.

Tim Duncan had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs.

Exactly one week after spraining his right elbow in the regular-season finale, Ginobili finally returned after unsuccessfully lobbying coach Gregg Popovich to play in Game 1.

Ginobili struggled with his shot, going 5-for-13 from the field, but he got to the free-throw line 13 times.

Spurs 93, Grizzlies 87

MEMPHIS (87): Young 7-13 2-2 17, Randolph 5-14 1-1 11, Gasol 2-9 8-11 12, Conley 6-15 1-2 13, Allen 7-13 1-1 15, Battier 1-7 0-0 3, Arthur 4-5 0-1 8, Mayo 2-11 1-2 5, Vasquez 1-1 0-0 3, Powe 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 35-88 14-20 87.

SAN ANTONIO (93): Jefferson 5-8 3-4 16, Duncan 7-12 2-2 16, McDyess 2-6 1-2 5, Parker 6-14 0-0 12, Ginobili 5-13 7-13 17, Bonner 1-3 0-0 3, Hill 3-9 8-9 16, Blair 1-4 0-1 2, Neal 2-4 1-1 6, Green 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 32-73 22-32 93.

Memphis 17 27 21 22— 87

San Antonio 17 24 25 27— 93

3-Point Goals—Memphis 3-14 (Vasquez 1-1, Young 1-2, Battier 1-5, Conley 0-2, Mayo 0-4), San Antonio 7-17 (Jefferson 3-6, Hill 2-2, Neal 1-2, Bonner 1-3, Parker 0-1, Ginobili 0-3). Fouled Out—Duncan. Rebounds—Memphis 56 (Gasol 17), San Antonio 54 (Duncan 10). Assists—Memphis 17 (Mayo, Conley 4), San Antonio 21 (Parker 7). Total Fouls—Memphis 25, San Antonio 23. Technicals—Memphis defensive three second, San Antonio defensive three second. A—18,760.

Thunder edge now 2-0

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Thunder is more than just Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Way more.

A game after scoring a combined 72, the All-Star duo got plenty of help to build a commanding first-half lead and beat the Nuggets 106-89 in Game 2. The first-round Western Conference playoff series shifts to Denver on Saturday with Oklahoma City leading 2-0.

"Everybody chipped in tonight," Durant said. "That's what we're going to need."

Durant scored 23 and Westbrook added 21, but everyone else contributed to an early stretch that produced a 26-point lead in the second quarter. James Harden had 18 points and Serge Ibaka added 12.

Ty Lawson scored 20 to lead Denver, which could only get as close as 10 in the fourth quarter.

"When it looked like we could get it under 10, a 3-ball would go in or an offensive rebound would break our heart," Denver coach George Karl said.

Thunder 106, Nuggets 89

DENVER (89): Gallinari 3-8 0-2 7, Martin 2-6 3-4 7, Nene 2-8 12-18 16, Lawson 7-13 5-5 20, Chandler 0-6 4-4 4, Felton 5-11 4-4 16, Smith 1-6 0-0 2, Andersen 0-0 0-0 0, Harrington 6-9 0-0 15, Koufos 1-1 0-0 2, Forbes 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-69 28-37 89.

OKLAHOMA CITY (106): Durant 7-15 6-7 23, Ibaka 5-8 2-2 12, Perkins 2-6 3-5 7, Westbrook 7-18 4-4 21, Sefolosha 3-7 0-0 6, Collison 4-5 2-2 10, Harden 5-9 6-6 18, Mohammed 0-1 0-0 0, Maynor 1-6 1-2 3, Cook 2-7 0-0 6. Totals 36-82 24-28 106.

Denver 15 29 22 23— 89

Oklahoma City 31 28 22 25— 106

3-Point Goals—Denver 7-16 (Harrington 3-4, Felton 2-4, Lawson 1-2, Gallinari 1-3, Smith 0-1, Chandler 0-2), Oklahoma City 10-30 (Westbrook 3-6, Durant 3-7, Harden 2-5, Cook 2-7, Maynor 0-2, Sefolosha 0-3). Fouled Out—Perkins. Rebounds—Denver 40 (Nene 9), Oklahoma City 61 (Ibaka 12). Assists—Denver 12 (Lawson 3), Oklahoma City 19 (Westbrook 7). Total Fouls—Denver 21, Oklahoma City 26. Technicals—Denver Coach Karl, Martin, Denver defensive three second, Oklahoma City defensive three second. Flagrant Fouls—Perkins. A—18,203.

Love most Improved: Timberwolves forward Kevin Love, who went from sixth man last season to an All-Star and the league's leading rebounder, will be named the league's most improved player today, the Associated Press reported.

Around the league: Memphis forward Zach Randolph signed a four-year extension (terms were not disclosed). … Former player Oliver Miller, 41, was arrested and accused of pistol-whipping a man at a cookout near his Maryland home. Anne Arundel County Police charged him with assault, reckless endangerment and other offenses.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Three stars

JAMES NEAL: The Penguins wing, who has struggled to score since being acquired from the Stars in February to do just that for the offensively challenged team, slapped a sharp-angle shot on the Lightning net and got the winning goal in the second overtime, his first of the postseason and just his second with Pittsburgh.

MARTY ST. LOUIS: The Lightning wing's goal late in the second — his fourth of the series — pulled Tampa Bay within one and gave it a much-needed lift. He also assisted on Sean Bergenheim's tying goal late in the third.

ARRON ASHAM: The Penguins fourth-line wing, a thorn in the Lightning's side all series, scored in the second to give Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead. It was his third goal of the playoffs.

Quote to note

"That's a good name. That's pretty cool. That's obvious she's a hockey fan." — Lightning W Ryan Malone after hearing that Tampa Bay resident Miah Glisson will name her daughter, due in August, Zoe Malone

Number of the day

8.68 Average rating in Pittsburgh for television coverage of the Penguins, about 101,000 homes, best in the league

Tickets

About 2,000 remain for Monday's potential Game 6 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa. Several hundred potentially unused team tickets might be available through Ticketmaster (outlets, ticketmaster.com, toll-free 1-800-745-300).

The series

Game 1, Penguins 3, Lightning 0: Pens goalie 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.

Game 4: Penguins 3, Lightning 2 2OT: James Neal gets the winner on a sharp-angle shot 3:38 into the second overtime.

Saturday: at Pittsburgh, noon, Sun Sports

Monday: at Tampa Bay, TBA * #

April 27: at Pittsburgh, TBA * #

* If necessary # Sun Sports or FSN

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

The top spot

Lightning GM Steve Yzerman, right, said he did not even realize there was an award for GM of the year. Nevertheless, the first-year Tampa Bay executive is a finalist, along with Vancouver's Mike Gillis and Nashville's Dave Poile. "I was not expecting that," Yzerman said, and proceeded to give more credit to owner Jeff Vinik and CEO Tod Leiweke. "I don't think it's reflective of what I've done but of what Jeff has done and Tod and the players who work hard." The winner, picked by a panel of 40, including all 30 general managers, will be announced in June, 13 months after Yzerman took the job. Just being nominated, Vinik said, is "well-deserved recognition." "I love the position," Yzerman said. "I love what I do. It's a great challenge."

Home sweet home

Taking a cue from the 2004 Stanley Cup team, W Marty St. Louis is spending game days in Tampa at a hotel near the St. Pete Times Forum.

"It's a 50-minute commute (home)," St. Louis said. "I don't want to be in a car for 50 minutes." Tampa Bay players stayed in a downtown hotel during the 2004 final against Calgary. That was as much for camaraderie as anything. But St. Louis, who like most players takes a pregame nap, said he does it "for the rest."

Times wires
Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Angels 4, Rangers 1

ARLINGTON, Texas — Jered Weaver became the majors' first five-game winner with a complete game for the Angels, who won their 11th in 14 games and took over first place in the AL West. The defending AL champion Rangers have lost six of eight. Weaver, who had already set a major-league record for the earliest calendar date to get his fourth victory, became the first pitcher since Dave Stewart for the Athletics in 1990 to win five times in his team's first 18 games.

Times wires
Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Cardinals 5, Nationals 3

Game 2

ST. LOUIS — Lance Berkman had three hits and two RBIs and the Cardinals got four innings of one-hit relief to earn a doubleheader split. Jaime Garcia pitched five solid innings and Colby Rasmus got his fourth RBI of the day as St. Louis snapped the Nationals' four-game winning streak. Reserve third baseman Daniel Descalso made three nice defensive plays for St. Louis.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 20, 2011

TAMPA — For the Lightning, the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series with the Penguins has become a period-by-period, or even a shift-to-shift, affair.

That is because after Wednesday night's 3-2 double-overtime loss in front of a sellout crowd of 20,326 at the St. Pete Times Forum, Pittsburgh has a three games to one lead in the best-of-seven series.

It also has a potential series-clinching Game 5 on Saturday at the Consol Energy Center.

"Shift to shift, 20 minutes by 20 minutes," Lightning left wing Simon Gagne said. "Focus on the first period, then focus on the second, not thinking about forcing stuff. We have to focus on the game we're going to play Saturday. We have to focus on that one game."

Gagne went through the same situation last season with the Flyers, who came back from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Bruins in an East semifinal. Still, Gagne said that selling his teammates on the potential for victory would be difficult immediately after such an emotional loss.

"The good thing is we have two days between games," Gagne said, "and a day off (today) to recover and think a little bit about what is going on and recharge the battery."

The draining contest ended 3:38 into the second extra period when James Neal simply flung a puck at the net from a sharp angle and it went in off goaltender Dwayne Roloson's glove.

It was the second soft goal Roloson allowed in the game. The other was Tyler Kennedy's tally 8:14 into the first period, Pittsburgh's first power-play goal of the series on its 16th try.

That the Lightning was even in this game was a minor miracle. It was outshot 53-31. Its power play that entered the game 4-for-11 was 0-for-4, and the Penguins were so positionally sound, Tampa Bay could hardly generate any offense.

But Roloson was brilliant between his two soft goals, and his 50 saves included some game-savers that allowed Tampa Bay to overcome a 2-0 deficit in the final 23 minutes.

Marty St. Louis' goal with 2:46 left in the second period, in which he deked past defenseman Paul Martin and beat goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, made it 2-1.

Sean Bergenheim's goal with 3:17 left in regulation, off a scramble in front and with a St. Louis assist, sent the game to overtime.

"I can't find any words for what he's doing out there," coach Guy Boucher said of St. Louis. "He's a machine out there."

So was Roloson until Neal's goal.

"It just knuckled and goes off my glove, crossbar and in," Roloson said. "It happens. It's ugly."

Said Neal, who got his first career playoff goal and just his second of any kind with the Penguins since being acquired in February: "As long as you keep shooting, one is going to find its way to the back of the net. I didn't have the angle, but it managed to find its way in."

It is a lesson Boucher wishes his players would learn. His team has been outshot 159-111.

"It's been the focus of a lot of our meetings," Boucher said. "Our guys are teeing it up, and they're trying to aim all the time.

"All year long we're a team that put a lot of pucks on net. And right now we're waiting for the perfect opportunity, the perfect shot."

Here is what Tampa Bay faces: Of the 230 previous NHL teams that fell behind 3-1 in a seven-game series, only 23 (9.6 percent) have come back to win.

That the Lightning won Game 2 in Pittsburgh helps.

"It's possible," Gagne said, "if we focus shift by shift."