Times wires
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Politics

N.J. election official: Lewis can't run for senate seat

TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey's top election official ruled Tuesday that nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis is ineligible to run for state Senate because he failed to meet the four-year state residency requirement for candidates seeking elected office.

Secretary of State Kim Guadagno ordered Lewis' name to be stricken from the June Democratic primary ballot.

Guadagno, lieutenant governor under Gov. Chris Christie, noted that Lewis said he paid income taxes in California and was registered to vote there until recently.

Lewis said the ruling will be challenged.

"What's really clear to me is that first the governor called and tried to talk me out of my race; now he's trying to use his power to do it," said Lewis, 49, who grew up in New Jersey. He has owned homes there since 2005 and has had a valid New Jersey driver's license since '06.

Et cetera

Figure skating: Mae Berenice Meite of France won the qualifying round for the world championships in Moscow. Meite recorded a season's best of 98.88, more than seven points ahead of Sweden's Joshi Helgesson. The top 12 of 26 competitors qualified to join 18 skaters who got direct entries for the women's competition, which starts Friday. Ice dancers Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje of Canada had the best score in the preliminary round.

Golf: Lee Westwood will become the first No. 1-ranked golfer to play in South Korea when he takes part in the Ballantine's Championship this week. Westwood reclaimed the top ranking from Martin Kaymer after winning the Indonesian Masters this past weekend.

Horses: Uncle Mo appeared right at home on the dirt at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., leaving trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole optimistic he'll be ready to run in the Kentucky Derby on May 7. The 3-year-old colt recently battled a gastrointestinal infection. Meanwhile, The Factor is recuperating from minor throat surgery and will not run in the first leg of the Triple Crown, trainer Bob Baffert said. … Longtime announcer Tom Durkin is stepping away from his gig calling the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes for network television. Durkin, who has called the past 30 Triple Crown races for various networks, cited the stress of the job.

Soccer: Manchester United beat host Schalke 2-0 in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal on goals by Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney.

Tennis: Tampa resident John Isner lost to Ricardo Mello 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) in the first round of the Serbia Open in Belgrade. … Former U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro defeated Pedro Sousa 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in the first round of the Estoril Open in Oeiras, Portugal. … Third-seeded Marin Cilic edged Simone Bolelli 7-5, 7-6 (7-4) to reach the second round of the BMW Open in Munich.

Times wires

Times staff
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

'Stayin' Alive' facts

•The disco song, written and performed by the Bee Gees, was the second release of the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. It hit No. 1 on Feb. 4, 1978, and stayed there for four weeks.

•The song was written and recorded in Paris for tax reasons.

•The original Stayin' Alive video was scrapped and redone so lead singer Barry Gibb could grow a beard for it.

• A study showed that humming the song helped in administering CPR. The song has 103 beats per minute, the perfect number to maintain CPR rhythm.

Times wires
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

ARLINGTON, Texas — Rangers OF Josh Hamilton stood in a tunnel near the dugout with sweat dripping off his face and a look of contentment after his most extensive workout since breaking his upper right arm.

"Today is the best I've felt as far as my pain since I've been hurt," Hamilton said Tuesday.

Exactly two weeks after getting hurt diving headfirst into home plate at Detroit, the reigning AL MVP went through a workout that included catching flyballs, throwing and running the bases. He was in good spirits wearing a T-shirt featuring the words "Don't Get Bitter, Get Better" surrounding a lemon.

"I don't even have to say anything. That says it all," he said, pointing to the shirt. "Don't feel sorry for yourself. … It is what it is. Just do what you can to get better, as fast as you can. That's it, (there's) a lot of season left."

The former Rays prospect sustained a non-displaced fracture at the top of his right arm, just below the shoulder, when he tried scoring with a daring dash on a foul popup after being told to go by third-base coach Dave Anderson.

The Rangers said then that Hamilton would be out six to eight weeks and wouldn't be able to swing a bat for a month.

"Swinging will be the last thing I do," Hamilton reiterated. "I'm just staying on top of everything I can until I get that back."

When Hamilton got hurt, the fracture was small enough that it wasn't initially detectable on an X-ray until after an MRI exam.

There was a follow-up X-ray Friday, and Hamilton said team physician Keith Meister told him it was clear.

MAUER NOT CLOSE: Twins All-Star C Joe Mauer will be eligible to come off the disabled list Thursday. But GM Bill Smith doesn't think he will be healthy enough for that to happen.

Mauer went on the disabled list April 14 with bilateral leg weakness. Smith said the former AL MVP lost about a week of rehab time because of a nasty bout of the flu that circulated through the clubhouse.

Smith said Mauer has recovered from the illness but needs more time to strengthen his legs for the rigors of catching. The team has not determined if Mauer will need to go to the minors on a rehab assignment.

DODGERS TAKEOVER: Dodgers owner Frank McCourt said he will travel to New York to meet with Major League Baseball executives about the recent appointment of a monitor to run the team. McCourt said in a statement that he'll also discuss the "practical concerns" about the hiring of former Rangers president J. Thomas Schieffer to oversee the daily operation of the franchise.

In other Dodgers news, RF Andre Ethier hit in his 23rd straight game, the longest April hitting streak ever. Ethier doubled in the first against the Marlins to break the record set by his former manager, Joe Torre, who hit in 22 straight April games in 1971 for the Cardinals.

EX-RAY RETIRES: OF Gabe Gross, 31, who played for the Rays for two seasons and was a key reserve during their 2008 World Series run, retired after seven years in the majors.

PITCHER LEAVES JAPAN: Former Royals RHP Brian Bannister left Japan's Yomiuri Giants after last month's earthquake and tsunami and does not plan to return, the team said.

BREWERS: Utilityman Erick Almonte became the first major-leaguer placed on the seven-day disabled list for concussions after being hit in the forehead by a thrown ball during batting practice. All-Star RF Corey Hart was activated after missing the first three weeks of the season with an oblique strain.

INDIANS: An MRI exam on RHP Carlos Carrasco's elbow did not show any structural damage, and he might make his scheduled start Saturday.

NATIONALS: SS Ian Desmond went on the paternity leave list, and OF Roger Bernadina was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse.

PHILLIES: RHP Jose Contreras has a grade one strain in his right elbow and will be sidelined three to four weeks. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said the extent of the injury was discovered in an MRI exam. Contreras had been the team's closer in the absence of RHP Brad Lidge, out with a strained right rotator cuff.

PIRATES: OF Xavier Paul was claimed off waivers from the Dodgers.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

MINNEAPOLIS — The Rays were quite happy the Twins made the decision to postpone Tuesday's game in early afternoon given frigid temperatures and a forecast for the daylong rain to turn to snow.

But they were rather unhappy that the Twins scheduled the game to be made up on Thursday night as part of what is now a split doubleheader rather then when the Rays return in July.

"That would make a lot more sense," centerfielder B.J. Upton said. "Obviously it's not up to us. We've got to do it, I guess."

The Rays had two primary objections: that the weather will still be inclement and uncomfortable on Thursday; and that the additional game will be taxing as they won't arrive home until 4-5 a.m. Friday, then have to face the Angels that night and again at 1 p.m. Saturday, playing four games in a span of about 51 hours.

"I would like it the other way," Rays manager Joe Maddon said, "but whatever we have to do."

The decision on rescheduling is made with input from officials and players from both teams and MLB. Player rep Evan Longoria said the Rays wanted the makeup to be during the July 4-5-6 visit, but the Twins players wanted it this week, and when there is a split the home team prevails.

Twins GM Bill Smith told the Star-Tribune that their thinking was that both teams are well-rested now (having been off Monday and Tuesday), that neither team has a day off in July outside the four-day All-Star break and that there could be further rescheduling issues due to other potential rainouts.

The plan could be further impacted because tonight's game could also be in jeopardy as the forecast calls for rain and snow showers, with temperatures in the low 40s and a feels-like in the mid 30s.

If the Rays play tonight, they will start Wade Davis, who was to pitch Tuesday, against Twins left-hander Francisco Liriano. They are holding off on setting Thursday's starters, but most likely it would be Jeremy Hellickson in the day game and Jeff Niemann.

The rain is expected to continue through Thursday afternoon then taper off, with temperatures still in the 40s for the first game, at 12:10 local time, then actually warming to the low 50s for the 7:10 nightcap.

Longoria said the weather was his biggest concern: "You want to play doubleheaders when the weather is nice, when you don't have to worry about playing in the elements."

Maddon had two concerns. One is the carryover effect from the late-night arrival home (their second in a week) and then the quick turnaround. "That can have a negative impact on your energy level," he said.

The other is the cumulative effect on his relievers from the volume of games in such a short period. "You go from a really well-rested bullpen to a very taxed one very quickly if the games don't play out well," he said.

Plus, he doesn't like the idea of day-night doubleheaders anyway — "an absolutely ridiculous concept," he said recently — as he feels they not only make for extremely long days (for the financial benefit of the home team since they are considered separate games) but also increase the risk of injuries for players.

Upton said he also had safety concerns about the conditions.

"Too many things can go wrong for both sides in the cold," he said. "Guys can't get as loose as they normally would, the ground might still be wet. … Too much can go wrong."

Marc Topkin can be reached at topkin@sptimes.com

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Rays at Twins

When/where: 8:10 tonight, Target Field, Minneapolis

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

Starting pitchers

RAYS: RH Wade Davis (2-2, 2.73)

TWINS: LH Francisco Liriano (1-3, 7.40)

Watch for ...

Wading in: Davis beat the Twins at home April 15 and the White Sox on April 20, allowing one run over seven innings both times, working with less velocity and more command. His prior start at Target Field didn't go well as he allowed three homers, two to Jim Thome. Overall he is 1-0, 5.71 in three starts vs. the Twins.

Frank approach: Liriano hasn't been as sharp as during his 13-10, 3.62 2010 season, but he's getting there based on his last outing in Baltimore on Monday. A Friday rainout pushed him back until tonight, and for good reason: He is 2-1, 2.16 in five starts vs. the Rays.

Key matchups

Rays vs. Liriano

Kelly Shoppach 4-for-14

B.J. Upton 4-for-11

Ben Zobrist 1-for-7

Twins vs. Davis

Michael Cuddyer 2-for-8

Jim Thome 2-for-4, 2 HRs

Delmon Young 3-for-8

On deck

Thursday, 1:10 and 8:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeff Niemann (0-3, 7.08) and Jeremy Hellickson (1-2, 4.32), order TBA; Twins — Nick Blackburn (1-3. 4.01) and Scott Baker (1-2, 3.24)

Friday: vs. Angels, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (3-2, 3.19); Angels — Ervin Santana (0-3, 5.51)

Saturday: vs. Angels, 1:10, Ch. 13. Rays — James Shields (2-1, 2.35); Angels — TBA

Sunday: vs. Angels, 1:40, Sun Sports. Rays — TBA; Angels — TBA

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Recreational activity of the day

OF Matt Joyce and INF Sean Rodriguez, two Florida boys, took a few minutes to go sliding across the wet tarp. "It was kinda like when you're a kid and you're playing on a Slip 'n Slide with friends," Joyce said. "The only difference is that it's a little colder."

Number of the day

51 Hours in which the Rays will play four games, Thursday-Saturday, and take a three-hour flight from Minneapolis home.

Quote of the day

"Nice city, great ballpark. But the weather's not cool in April."

CF B.J. Upton on Minneapolis.

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

TAMPA — Stacey Heintz smiles when she says that two weekends ago, she and her husband, Chris, had their first weekend away together without the kids since their honeymoon in 2003.

Stacey is in her 12th season as an assistant coach with USF's softball team, and Chris, a former Bulls baseball standout, is in his first season as hitting coach for USF baseball, and their teams lucked out with road trips to Seton Hall on the same weekend.

"Our second honeymoon. Courtyard Marriott, South Orange," said Chris, busy preparing Tuesday for baseball's midweek trip to Miami as his wife prepared for a key home softball doubleheader against Notre Dame.

The two have been together 10 years, married for seven, with a history of balancing their relationship amid hectic, often conflicting schedules.

"We're used to crazy," said Stacey, 40, who left Ken Eriksen's staff for the 2007 and 2008 seasons after the birth of her and Chris' first child, Ethan, now 5; they have a second son, Sammy, 3.

"It's been crazy since we started dating, but it's definitely better having him here and being crazy together. We share the craziness now."

Being together was the reason Chris stepped down as a rookie manager in the Twins' minor-league system last summer for a chance to return to USF, having spent enough seasons away from his wife and children. When he was playing in the minors, Chris would leave to start his season and often not see Stacey until her season ended.

"It was tough, being physically absent for six months. You can talk to somebody on the phone as much as you want, but it's definitely hard, especially once the boys came into the picture," said Chris, 36. "The opportunity to come to work here, as much as it's still difficult, it's 10 times better than it was."

Both had successful careers in college. Stacey helped Massachusetts to four conference titles and a College World Series in 1992, and Chris, who played in 34 major-league games with the Twins from 2005 to 2007, remains USF's single-season record holder for hits (106) and RBIs (95), both set in 1996.

The two met at USF, at a birthday party for Bryan Peters, a former USF teammate of Chris' who was then an assistant baseball coach with the Bulls. Now at High Point, Peters remains a close friend and said their marriage is a testament to what two people can do to stay together.

"The divorce rate in our profession is phenomenally high because of the demands of the schedule," Peters said. "It's incredible to be able to maintain a relationship in any part of coaching, let alone both people busy in coaching. They're two very special people who are wise and mature beyond their years."

The Heintzes credit their head coaches, who are accommodating to their family schedules, and help from their own families. Chris' parents, Bob and Elsa, come over from Clearwater to help with the kids, as does Stacey's mother, who flies down from New York.

"It's not easy doing what both of them do," Eriksen said. "It's the old adage of what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. … They're two very, very good people at what they do, and we're fortunate. It's unique. It can be done, but it's a challenge and a half."

Times wires
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Indians 9, Royals 4

CLEVELAND — Justin Masterson won his fifth straight start, a stunning personal turnaround, Jack Hannahan homered twice and Shin-Soo Choo hit a three-run shot for the Indians. Masterson started 0-5 a year ago, lost 11 straight over two seasons and went winless over a stretch of 17 starts, a club record for futility. Cleveland won its eight straight home game.

Times wires
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Marlins 4, Dodgers 2

MIAMI — Mike Stanton had a tiebreaking two-run single and Chris Volstad worked in and out of trouble for seven innings for the Marlins, who have won seven of eight. With the score tied at 2 in the sixth, former East Lake standout Chris Coghlan and Hanley Ramirez singled. Gaby Sanchez walked before Stanton hit a single to right-center off Clayton Kershaw.

Times wires
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Mariners 7, Tigers 3

DETROIT — Miguel Olivo hit a bizarre home run and Felix Hernandez beat the Tigers for the seventh straight time for the Mariners. After Detroit scored an unearned run in the first, Seattle tied it in the second. Olivo hit a routine-looking fly to deep left, but former Durant standout Ryan Raburn struggled to find it in the sun. While short of the warning track, Raburn lunged back only to deflect the ball into the air and into the Tigers bullpen.

Times wires
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Mets 6, Nationals 4

WASHINGTON — Josh Thole had three RBIs, including a two-run double that put the Mets ahead in the sixth, and New York won its fifth straight. Thole's double to the leftfield corner was just beyond the reach of Michael Morse.

Times wires
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

White Sox 3, Yankees 2

NEW YORK — Paul Konerko hit a go-ahead two-run homer off former Ray Rafael Soriano and Brent Lillibridge made two spectacular catches in a row for the White Sox in the ninth. Lillibridge entered as a pinch-runner in the eighth and scored on Konerko's homer. He went to right and caught Alex Rodriguez's drive at the wall then charged and dived to snag Robinson Cano's liner.

Times wires
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

BALTIMORE — Five starts into his big-league career, Zach Britton is already looking like an ace.

Britton allowed one run in six innings to earn his fourth win, Derrek Lee had two hits and scored twice and the Orioles beat Boston 4-1 Tuesday night to end the Red Sox's five-game winning streak and keep them from reaching .500.

Britton became the first rookie starter in franchise history to win four games in April. He has a 2.84 ERA and owns nearly half of Baltimore's nine victories.

"So far he's been good. He's handled it pretty well for a guy with limited experience," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "We like the things he's doing right now."

Britton allowed one or no runs for the third time while showing a veteran's poise.

"I really don't get that nervous out there," Britton said. "I don't know what it is. It's not that I have a huge ego or anything. I have a lot of confidence that I can get out of the jams, and if I'm out there getting all worried I think the situations blow up. So I try to take my time and take a couple breaths and get after it."

Times wires
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Eastern Conference

Flyers 4, Sabres 3

Game 1: Sabres 1, Flyers 0

Game 2: Flyers 5, Sabres 4

Game 3: Flyers 4, Sabres 2

Game 4: Sabres 1, Flyers 0

Game 5: Sabres 4, Flyers 3 OT

Game 6: Flyers 5, Sabres 4 OT

Tuesday: Flyers 5, Sabres 2

Bruins 3, Canadiens 3

Game 1: Canadiens 2, Bruins 0

Game 2: Canadiens 3, Bruins 1

Game 3: Bruins 4, Canadiens 2

Game 4: Bruins 5, Canadiens 4 OT

Game 5: Bruins 2, Canadiens 1 2OT

Tuesday: Canadiens 2, Bruins 1

Tonight: at Boston, 7, Versus

Capitals 4, Rangers 1

Western Conference

Canucks 3, Blackhawks 3

Game 1: Canucks 2, Blackhawks 0

Game 2: Canucks 4, Blackhawks 3

Game 3: Canucks 3, Blackhawks 2

Game 4: Blackhawks 7, Canucks 2

Game 5: Blackhawks 5, Canucks 0

Game 6: Blackhawks 4, Canucks 3 OT

Tuesday: at Vancouver, late

Sharks 4, Kings 2

Game 1: Sharks 3, Kings 2 OT

Game 2: Kings 4, Sharks 0

Game 3: Sharks 6, Kings 5 OT

Game 4: Sharks 6, Kings 3

Game 5: Kings 3, Sharks 1

Game 6: Sharks 4, Kings 3 OT

Predators 4, Ducks 2

Red Wings 4, Coyotes 0

* If necessary

Backed by a burst of goals, Boucher gets another round to prove he's the goalie who can lead the Flyers to their first Stanley Cup since 1975.

Boucher stopped 26 shots and Philadelphia advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals with a 5-2 win over the Sabres in the finale of their quarterfinal series Tuesday. "There's going to be days when things don't go your way," Boucher said. "But you have to play through it."

Boucher was the Game 1 backup and won Games 2 and 6 in relief. Sergei Bobrovsky started Games 1 and 2; Boucher got Games 3-5 and 7, and Michael Leighton Game 6. The Flyers became the first team in 23 years to win a postseason series in which it used three starting goalies, the Elias Sports Bureau said.

This time the Sabres' Ryan Miller was the goalie chased after the Flyers built a 4-0 lead 1:59 into the third period. "They got the pucks in the net, they got the bounces, and we couldn't get anything going and couldn't cash in until the third," Miller said.

First Period—1, Phila., Coburn 1 (Briere), 19:41. Penalties—Gragnani, Buf (roughing), 2:57; Briere, Phi (roughing), 2:57; Briere, Phi (boarding), 15:23.

Second Period—2, Phila., Briere 6 (Richards, Giroux), 4:45 (pp). 3, Phila., van Riemsdyk 4 (Giroux, Pronger), 10:19 (pp). Penalties—Giroux, Phi (interference), 1:04; Myers, Buf (interference), 4:40; Butler, Buf (hooking), 9:09; Carle, Phi (holding), 18:48; Myers, Buf (slashing), 19:02; Coburn, Phi (cross-checking), 19:02.

Third Period—4, Phila., Leino 3 (Carle), 1:59. 5, Buffalo, Myers 1 (Stafford, Hecht), 6:33. 6, Phila., Carcillo 2 (Versteeg, Timonen), 10:03. 7, Buffalo, Boyes 1 (Roy, Myers), 15:21 (pp). Penalties—Gerbe, Buf, misconduct, 11:45; Carcillo, Phi, misconduct-game misconduct, 11:45; Timonen, Phi (holding), 14:19; Ennis, Buf (slashing), 19:01; Butler, Buf (slashing), 19:41. Shots on Goal—Buffalo 2-12-14—28. Phila. 16-11-9—36. Power-play opportunities—Buffalo 1 of 4; Phila. 2 of 4. Goalies—Buffalo, Miller 3-4-0 (28 shots-24 saves), Enroth (1:59 third, 8-7). Phila., Boucher 4-1-0 (28-26).

Canadiens edge Bruins, force Game 7

MONTREAL — Brian Gionta and Michael Cammalleri each scored five-on-three goals and the Canadiens forced a Game 7 in their East quarterfinal series with a 2-1 victory over the Bruins.

Game 7 is tonight in Boston.

"In less than 24 hours we've got to do it all over again and (Tuesday) gets forgotten really quickly depending on the result (tonight)," said Cammalleri, who scored in the first period and assisted on Gionta's goal in the second.

Boston played more than half the game without ejected wing Milan Lucic. Montreal got its second two-man advantage when Lucic was given a major for boarding and a game misconduct 4:37 into the second for a hit from behind on Jaroslav Spacek, who turned at the last second and was cut when his face hit the glass. Sixteen seconds later, Patrice Bergeron shot the puck over the glass for a delay-of-game call.

Gionta broke a tie when he knocked in a rebound at 5:48. Spacek returned in the period.

First Period—1, Montreal, Cammalleri 3 (Subban, Plekanec), 10:07 (pp). Penalties—Boston bench, served by Thornton (too many men), 8:54; Seidenberg, Bos (slashing), 8:58; Kostitsyn, Mon (hooking), 19:39; Bergeron, Bos (goaltender interference), 19:52.

Second Period—2, Boston, Seidenberg 1 (Kelly, Peverley), :48. 3, Montreal, Gionta 3 (Gomez, Cammalleri), 5:48 (pp). Penalties—Lucic, Bos, major-game misconduct (boarding), 4:37; Bergeron, Bos (delay of game), 4:53; Hamrlik, Mon (interference), 10:23; Montreal bench, served by Darche (too many men), 13:49; Spacek, Mon (hooking), 16:26; Horton, Bos (slashing), 16:48.

Third Period—None. Penalties—Kelly, Bos (high-sticking), 16:50. Shots on Goal—Boston 10-11-11—32. Montreal 11-10-6—27. Power-play opportunities—Boston 0 of 4; Montreal 2 of 7. Goalies—Boston, Thomas 3-3-0 (27 shots-25 saves). Montreal, Price 3-3-0 (32-31).

Capitals: Defenseman Mike Green practiced, three days after getting hit in the head by a puck in the East quarterfinal series-clinching win over the Rangers. He said he's ready for the next series. Tonight's two Game 7s will determine the opponent. Green missed 26 of the last 28 regular-season games with a concussion.

Masterton Trophy finalists: Ducks goalie Ray Emery, Flames forward Daymond Langkow and Flyers forward Ian Laperriere are the finalists for the award for "perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey." Emery had hip surgery in April 2010 and returned near the end of this season. More than a year after a puck hit his spine and fractured a vertebra, Langkow, a former Lightning player, returned April 1. Laperriere blocked a shot with his face in last year's playoffs; he sustained a concussion and fractured orbital bone but came back in the postseason. The winner will be announced June 22.

Times wires
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Brewers 3, Reds 2

MILWAUKEE — Rickie Weeks, Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder homered, and the Brewers beat the Reds for the first time this season. Milwaukee had been 0-4 against Cincinnati this year and losers of 19 of the past 22 meetings before Weeks homered off reliever Logan Ondrusek to lead off the eighth. Fielder hit his to begin the second for his major league-best 23rd RBI. Braun's shot to start the fourth was his big league-high ninth.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

PITTSBURGH

For conspiracy theorists, the Lightning's practice Tuesday at the Iceoplex was fertile ground.

About halfway through the workout at the complex in suburban Canonsburg, the large lights over the rink went out. Smaller lights remained on (as did, it seemed, every other light in the complex), and the team finished its workout in soft mood lighting.

"Only in Pittsburgh," Tampa Bay assistant coach Dan Lacroix yelled.

There were plenty of jokes after practice about the timing of the mini blackout as the Lightning prepared to face the Penguins tonight at the Consol Energy Center in the seventh and deciding game of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.

"Welcome," assistant coach Marty Raymond said, speaking generally, of course, "to Game 7."

Lose and you go home.

It is a daunting proposition despite general manager Steve Yzerman's advice to his players to "relax, stay calm and just go out and play."

The Lightning is trying to take the edge off by considering the game its third straight Game 7, having won two elimination games to overcome a three games to one deficit to tie the series 3-3.

"What's the difference between us being eliminated in the fifth game, being eliminated in the sixth game?" coach Guy Boucher said. "We've been playing Game 7 hockey the last two games."

"The message for the next one," center Steven Stamkos said, "is don't change the way we've played."

Goalie Dwayne Roloson entered Tuesday third in the playoffs with a 2.05 goals-against average and second with a .941 save percentage. That's good, because his team has been outshot in every game of the series.

Tampa Bay's power play was third at 32 percent. Its penalty kill was second at 96.7 percent, with 29 kills in 30 attempts.

The Lightning also has been a handful in front of the net, scoring off rebounds and set plays, which is why Penguins defenseman Ben Lovejoy said heads in the defensive zone have to be "on a swivel."

And there is history. Tampa Bay is 2-0 in Game 7s. It beat the Flyers for the 2004 East championship and the Flames for the 2004 Stanley Cup.

Visiting teams entered this season 8-2 in Game 7s since 2009, and the Penguins are 2-5 in Game 7s at home.

More to the point, though, Boucher said, is how his team has grown during the series: "Players are managing circumstances better than they were before. There's a lot more calm when a penalty is called against us. There's a lot more calm when the other team scores, a lot more calm when the other team starts to get a bit of momentum."

For Pittsburgh, 18 players have Game 7 experience to Tampa Bay's seven.

"There is experience to draw," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said. "I also know that every game and every series has its own separate emotions."

Said Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier: "Stats are in the past. I know Pittsburgh is going to play hard and do their best. It'll be handled on the ice."

And perhaps with a little gamesmanship. Rhonda Eustis, at the front desk at the Iceoplex, said she did not know what caused what seemed to be a selective power outage. She did know this, though:

"I don't think it will affect Marty's (St. Louis) game."

Times wires
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Blue Jays 10, Rangers 3

ARLINGTON, Texas — Adam Lind homered twice and drove in five runs for the Blue Jays, who scored all their runs in the first four innings. Lind had an RBI single in a five-run first off Matt Harrison. He homered leading off the third and hit a three-run shot the next inning for his fifth career multihomer game and third at Rangers Ballpark, backing former Dixie Hollins standout Jesse Litsch.

Times wires
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Rockies 4, Cubs 3

CHICAGO — Todd Helton hit two home runs and Jorge De La Rosa pitched seven strong innings for the Rockies, who at 16-7 are off to the best start in franchise history. It was Helton's 27th career multihomer game and his first since Aug. 7, 2007, against the Brewers. Huston Street picked up his ninth straight save to start the season.

Times wires
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Giants 3, Pirates 2

10 innings

PITTSBURGH — Darren Ford scored on a fielder's choice in the 10th after scoring the tying run as a pinch-runner in the eighth, helping the Giants snap a four-game skid.

Times wires
Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Astros 6, Cardinals 5

HOUSTON — Bill Hall's ninth-inning RBI single rallied the Astros. Brian Bogusevic scored the tying run on Mitchell Boggs' wild pitch earlier in the inning. With Michael Bourn on first, Angel Sanchez and Hunter Pence singled to set up Hall's one-out winner.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer


Wednesday, April 27, 2011

MINNEAPOLIS — The Legend of Sam Fuld could grow to All-Star proportions.

The Rays' exciting and interesting outfielder, whose early season success has made him one of the hottest topics in baseball, was included on the All-Star ballot released Tuesday.

And Fuld may have been as surprised as anyone.

"It's an honor to be on the ballot in the company of so many great players," he said via text message. "Just three weeks ago I would never have imagined this happening, but it goes to show you how unpredictable baseball can be."

Rays officials have input into which players appear on the ballot, and obviously they had time after the April 8 "retirement" of Manny Ramirez to add Fuld and shift Johnny Damon to the DH position.

3B Evan Longoria, elected to start the previous two years, headlines the other Rays on the ballot, which also includes 1B Dan Johnson, 2B Ben Zobrist, SS Reid Brignac, C John Jaso and OFs Matt Joyce and B.J. Upton. Pitchers and reserves are chosen in a vote of players and by league officials.

Online voting for the July 12 game in Phoenix is under way, and in-stadium balloting will begin at the Trop on Friday.

LONGO SET FOR TUESDAY: Longoria's return from the disabled list is now set for Tuesday, barring any setbacks in the final stages of his recovery from a left oblique strain.

Longoria, who took batting practice in the cage again Tuesday with no issues, will start a short rehab assignment with Double-A Montgomery on Thursday, with a schedule to play in four games over five days and get 12-15 at-bats.

He will bat leadoff and play seven innings in the first three games and get one day off, then play nine innings Monday and rejoin the Rays at home on Tuesday against Toronto.

"Obviously everyone, including myself, is more concerned about fatigues or soreness or the lingering effects of those first couple games as opposed to getting at-bats," Longoria said.

PITCHING IN: Manager Joe Maddon said after Tuesday's postponement that "as of right now we're just bumping everything back" in terms of starting pitchers. So with RHP Wade Davis moving from Tuesday to tonight, that would have RHPs Jeff Niemann, who has been struggling, and Jeremy Hellickson, who was sick before his last start, pitching in Thursday's doubleheader, with the order to be determined.

But then Maddon said something that indicated there could be a change, and didn't want to expound on it: "It's not going to be dramatic, it's just something we may choose to do a little bit differently with the guys that are available to pitch on that day."

DH BLUES: Not only are the Rays not pleased with Tuesday's game being made up as a day-night doubleheader on Thursday, they aren't happy with what they're hearing about the re-scheduling of the April 13 rainout in Boston.

Though both teams are off Aug. 15 — with the Rays coming from New York and the Sox from Seattle — the Sox are pushing a plan to play a doubleheader on Aug. 16, with a previously scheduled 1:35 game on Aug. 17.

"We're going to possibly play three games in a 24-hour span, which is unbelievable," said Longoria, the Rays player rep. "I don't know how that could even be okay by Major League Baseball."

HONORED: RHP James Shields said he was truly honored to win the American League player of the week award after pitching back-to-back complete games. "It's nice," he said. "Anytime you get player of the week in the AL it's pretty special. There's a lot of guys who had some really good games."

MISCELLANY: INF Elliot Johnson was sick Tuesday and Maddon wasn't sure if he would have been able to play, or what his status will be for tonight. … Dan Johnson said the red welt that appeared on his forehead after Sunday's game in Toronto apparently was the result of a spider bite and was gone by that evening. … Tonight's game is moved to Fox Sports Florida due to the Lightning game.