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Mariners 7, Tigers 2

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Times wires
Thursday, April 28, 2011

Mariners 7, Tigers 2

DETROIT — Rookie Michael Pineda struck out nine in six sharp innings, and Miguel Olivo and Luis Rodriguez homered to help the Mariners to a three-game sweep. Justin Smoak hit an RBI double in the fourth inning that put Seattle ahead to stay as the Mariners swept a three-game set against the Tigers for the first time since July 2003. Pineda struck out the first four batters he faced, including Miguel Cabrera in a nine-pitch at-bat.


Captains corner: Warm water turns on kingfish, tarpon, permit bite

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By Jay Mastry, Times Correspondent
Thursday, April 28, 2011

What's hot: Expectations are high for Saturday's popular Old Salt King of the Beach kingfish tournament. There are divisions for ladies, juniors and those with a single engine. It will likely take a 40-plus-pounder to capture the $10,000 grand prize, but a 25-place leaderboard allows more to win cash and prizes.

Best of the rest: Water temperatures are in the 80s, and that means it's time for tarpon. Last week's full moon kick-started the action. Dozens of silver kings were jumped at the Skyway Bridge. Some were enticed by greenbacks fly-lined or suspended beneath corks, even more opted for pass crabs or small blue crabs drifted through the bridge pilings. The new and full moon phases in May promise to be even more productive.

Offshore: Permit have shown up on some area wrecks and reefs in 40 to 60 feet of water. A properly presented live shrimp or small crab works best. We raised mangrove snapper to the surface on a recent trip in 45 feet southwest of Pass-a-Grille. A chum bag and slivers of fresh-cut greenbacks kept them in our chum slick. Small chunks of bait drifted in the slick on No. 1 hooks and 10- and 12-pound spinning tackle was most effective in clear water.

Jay Mastry charters Jaybird out of St. Petersburg and can be reached at (727) 321-2142

Tampa Bay Rays up next: vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, April 28, 2011

. Up next

vs. Angels

Tonight-Sunday

What's new: The Angels, making their second trip to St. Petersburg in 3½ weeks, have been unexpectedly good. They have been carried primarily by starters Jered Weaver and Dan Haren, who are a combined 10-1, 1.10. The bullpen has gotten better (with an AL-best 2.53 ERA through Wednesday) but the offense has been inconsistent, with OFs Torii Hunter (.210) and Vernon Wells (.178) struggling. 1B Kendrys Morales remains on the DL.

Key stat: The Angels have allowed three runs or fewer in 15 of their 25 games.

Connections: Rays manager Joe Maddon, RHP Joel Peralta, INF Sean Rodriguez and coaches George Hendrick and Bobby Ramos are all former Angels. … L.A. pitching coach Mike Butcher used to be with the Rays, as did LHP Scott Kazmir, now on the DL. Angels C Bobby Wilson played at Seminole High with new Ray Casey Kotchman.

Series history: The Angels lead 76-45 overall, 34-27 at the Trop.

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Outdoors news and notes: Aid study of spawning horseshoe crabs

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By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, April 28, 2011

Making news

HElp Spy on those frisky Horseshoe crabS

This spring, mating horseshoe crabs will gather at sandy beaches across the state. Biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute need help from the public to identify their spawning areas. The best time to find spawning horseshoe crabs is around high tide, just before, during or after a new moon (May 3) or full moon (May 17). The FWC asks beachgoers to report the number of horseshoe crabs they see and whether they are mating. Go to MyFWC.com/contact and follow the link to fill out an online survey; e-mail findings to horseshoe@MyFWC.com; or call the FWC at (866) 252-9326.

Let loose the inner marine explorer

The FWC's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute will host its free open house (100 8th Ave. S.E., St. Petersburg) called MarineQuest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. There are hands-on learning experiences, touch tanks, live critters, face painting and crafts. For information, go to www.myfwc.com/research.

Things to do

Bend a rod, or learn how to

• Parade of boats for the Race to Isla Mujeres, Mexico. 9 a.m. today off the Pier in downtown St. Petersburg. Race starts at 10 a.m.

• The Rotary Club of Clearwater kingfish tournament. Captains meeting, 7 tonight, Clearwater Yacht Club. Fishing, 7 a.m. Saturday. Entry fee: $350 per boat. Information: www.clearwaterrotary.org.

• Bass fishing tournament to benefit the Susan G. Komen Cancer Research Center, May 7, from Anderson Park boat ramp on Lake Tarpon. Fishing, sunup to 3 p.m. Entry fee: $110 per boat. Information: (727) 515-3824.

• Saltwater fishing class, eight weeks beginning May 11, 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Betts Fishing Center in Largo. Information: Call Dave Zalewski, (727) 397-8815.

Rodney Page, Times staff writer

Auto races up next on major circuits

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Times wires
Thursday, April 28, 2011

Sprint Cup

What: Matthew and Daniel Hansen 400

When/where: Today, practice (Speed, noon), qualifying (Speed, 5:30 p.m.); Saturday, race, 7:30 p.m. (Ch. 13); Richmond, Va.

Fast facts: Denny Hamlin, who was born in Brandon but mostly grew up in Chesterfield, Va., has won the past two September races at the track. … Five-time defending series champion Johnson swept the 2007 Richmond races and won at the track in September 2008. … Richard Petty won a record 13 times at Richmond.

Standings: 1. Carl Edwards, 295; 2. Jimmie Johnson, 290; 3. Dale Earnhardt Jr., 276; 4. Kevin Harvick, 268; 5. Kurt Busch, 267; 6. Kyle Busch, 257; 7. Ryan Newman, 253; 8. Matt Kenseth, 252; 9. Juan Pablo Montoya, 246; 10. Clint Bowyer, 245

Nationwide

What: Bubba Burger 250

When/where: Today, practice (Speed, 10:30 a.m.), qualifying (Speed, 4 p.m.); race (Speed, 7:30 p.m.); Richmond, Va.

Fast facts: A tornado did extensive damage to the three-story home of driver Eric McClure and his family in Abdingdon, Va., but they were uninjured. The storm hit Wednesday night moments after the McClures returned from church. "It was terrifying," McClure said Thursday by phone from the battered house. … Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne was hospitalized for symptoms that could be related to an insect bite on his left elbow this month. Roush Fenway Racing officials say Bayne won't race this weekend and that the team will use a substitute driver. Bayne was not scheduled to race for the Wood Brothers in Sprint Cup this week.

Standings: 1. Justin Allgaier, 264; (tie) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 264; 3. Jason Leffler, 262; 4. Reed Sorenson, 260; (tie) Trevor Bayne, 260; 6. Elliott Sadler, 259; 7. Aric Almirola, 257; 8. Brian Scott, 228; 9. Kenny Wallace, 216; 10. Michael Annett, 184

IndyCar

What: Sao Paulo Indy 300

When: Saturday, practice, qualifying (Versus, 6 p.m.); Sunday, race (Versus, noon)

Fast facts: The 11-turn circuit features a nearly mile-long straightaway and runs through the Anhembi Sambadrome, a stadium-like venue that is the site of Carnival parades. Organizers repaved the circuit to try to eliminate bumps that made driving dangerous in last year's inaugural event. They added grooves to the slick surface on the front straight and removed curbs that drivers said hurt the racing.

Standings: 1. Dario Franchitti, 122; 2. Will Power, 115; 3. Tony Kanaan, 87; 4. Oriol Servia, 80; 5. Mike Conway, 74; 6. Alex Tagliani, 73; 7. Scott Dixon, 66; (tie) Ryan Briscoe, 66; (tie) Simona de Silvestro, 66; 10. Vitor Meira, 64

NHRA

What: Spring Nationals

When/where: Today, qualifying; Saturday, qualifying (ESPN2, 6 p.m.); Sunday, eliminations (ESPN2, 7 p.m.); Baytown, Texas

Fast facts: Larry Dixon earned the second of his record 12 Top Fuel victories here last year en route to the title.

Standings: Top Fuel — 1. Del Worsham, 389; 2. Larry Dixon, 312; Funny Car — 1. Robert Hight, 349; 2. Mike Neff, 300; Pro Stock — 1. Greg Anderson, 336; 2. Jason Line, 333; Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Eddie Krawiec, 124; 2. Hector Arana, 104

Trucks

Next: Lucas Oil 200, May 13, Dover International Speedway, Dover, Del.

Standings: 1. Johnny Sauter, 187; 2. Timothy Peters, 184; 3. Matt Crafton, 183; 4. Ron Hornaday Jr., 182; 5. Cole Whitt, 175; 6. Austin Dillon, 163; 7. Todd Bodine, 148; 8. Clay Rogers, 144; 9. Max Papis, 142; 10. Parker Kligerman, 136

Formula One

Next: Turkish Grand Prix, May 8, Istanbul

Standings: 1. Sebastian Vettel, 68; 2. Lewis Hamilton, 47; 3. Jenson Button, 38; 4. Mark Webber, 37; 5. Fernando Alonso, 26; 6. Felipe Massa, 24; 7. Vitaly Petrov, 17; 8. Nick Heidfeld, 15; 9. Nico Rosberg, 10; 10. Kamui Kobayashi, 7

Record for RBIs in a game by a Tampa Bay Ray

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Times staff
Thursday, April 28, 2011

. fast facts

RBI record

Most RBIs in a game by a Ray:

No. Player Opponent, date

8 Ben Zobrist MIN, Thursday

7 Carlos Peña BAL, 9/5/07

6 B.J. Upton NYY, 10/2/09

Carlos Peña NYY, 4/13/09

Evan Longoria BAL, 5/24/08

Carlos Peña BAL, 4/11/09

Paul Sorrento CLE, 5/3/98

Items of the day

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By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, April 28, 2011

He said it

"It's like you're getting hit on the head with a hammer, and you do everything you can to make it better — you take aspirin and put a bandage on it, but eventually you got to take your head out from beneath the hammer. Life is too short and precious."

Tom Durkin, race announcer, in the New York Times, announcing he will no longer call the Kentucky Derby because it's too high-pressured

Anniversary of the day

It was 50 years ago today — April 29, 1961 — that ABC debuted the classic show Wide World of Sports. The first show featured the Drake Relays from Drake University and the Penn Relays from Franklin Field in Philadelphia. The show, hosted mostly by the late Jim McKay, ran for 37 years until its cancellation in 1998.

Mauer won't give up catching

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Times wires
Thursday, April 28, 2011

MINNEAPOLIS — On the disabled list with another leg problem, Twins All-Star C Joe Mauer said he has no plans to make a position change anytime soon.

Mauer has been out since April 15 with bilateral leg weakness, a condition team doctors say was brought on by a light workload in spring training while he worked his way back from arthroscopic left knee surgery. That has renewed the debate about whether the three-time AL batting champion should change positions to keep his bat in the lineup.

Mauer said Thursday that he is determined to stay right where he is.

"I just think I can help the team a lot better when I'm behind the plate," said Mauer, who is in the first season of an eight-year, $184 million contract. "That's what I signed here to do is to catch. I think we're a better ballclub when I'm behind the plate."

Mauer had surgery in December and played in only eight spring games with the hopes that it would keep his legs fresh for the grind of catching in the regular season.

Twins head athletic trainer Rick McWane said the soreness Mauer is experiencing is because his body just wasn't strong enough at the start of the season.

COACH INVESTIGATED: Baseball said it would await information from the Braves before considering disciplinary action against pitching coach Roger McDowell, whom a fan accused of making ugly comments and gestures and threatening him with a bat. McDowell apologized for the incident, which took place April 23 in San Francisco.

TWITTER TROUBLE: Major League Baseball said it's looking into any rules White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen might have violated by using Twitter to make derogatory comments about an umpire after being ejected during Wednesday's game.

BLUE JAYS: OF Travis Snider was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas in anticipation of CF Rajai Davis coming off the disabled list today. The move means Corey Patterson and Juan Rivera will share time in leftfield.

GIANTS: INF Mark DeRosa went on the 15-day disabled list with left wrist inflammation. INF Emmanuel Burriss was activated.

INDIANS: RHP Carlos Carrasco went on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation. RHP Alex White, a 2009 first-round pick, was recalled from Triple-A Columbus and is set to start Saturday.

NATIONALS: SS Ian Desmond was reinstated from the paternity leave list, and OF Roger Bernadina was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. Desmond missed two games after his wife, Chelsey, gave birth Tuesday to their first son, Grayson Wesley Desmond.

PADRES: LH reliever Joe Thatcher will need arthroscopic surgery on his strained left shoulder and hopes to return late this season.

PHILLIES: RHP Joe Blanton went on the 15-day disabled list with a right elbow impingement. RHP Vance Worley will be called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to start tonight.

RANGERS: Minor-league OF Engel Beltre was suspended 15 games by the Texas League after apparently heaving a plastic trash can into the stands at fans who were tossing water bottles at players Wednesday.

YANKEES: RHP Phil Hughes, who had a setback in a recent throwing session as he tries to recover from arm fatigue, was sent to a specialist in St. Louis after examinations showed that he may have Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, a nerve and circulatory condition.


Teams to let players in starting today

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Times wires
Thursday, April 28, 2011

MINNEAPOLIS — Finally, the NFL is getting back to football.

Five days after a federal judge declared the lockout was illegal and nearly seven weeks after it began, the NFL said players can talk with coaches, work out at team headquarters and look at playbooks.

The NFL said all of that can begin today, when it is also expected to release detailed guidelines for free agency, trades and other roster moves in the absence of a collective bargaining agreement.

"That's great news," said linebacker Joe Mays, one of 10 Broncos who showed up at team headquarters Thursday. "It's something we've been trying to do, get back to work."

It was a welcome step forward on a day members of the Titans showed up to find two armed security guards at their locked-up facility, no sign of their new coach. New players in particular will benefit from the new guidelines.

"These rookies, there's a lot going on for them," Giants center Shaun O'Hara said. "So any info they can get, any things they can study, is good."

The league has asked the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis to restore the lockout as soon as possible. The court is considered a friendlier venue for businesses than the federal courts in Minnesota.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell still did not express optimism.

"I think the litigation, unfortunately, could go on for some period of time," he told the NFL Network. He said he looked forward to the next round of court-ordered talks on May 16.

Mandatory minicamps and voluntary offseason practices can begin under rules of the collective bargaining agreement that expired March 11. Team-supervised workouts will count toward bonuses in contracts, and players can work out on their own at team facilities if they have health insurance.

The news came hours after Titans players were unable to access the team's facility. Players were met by what they called "excessive" security when they arrived. Two armed off-duty police officers in uniform joined the team's director of security, Steve Berk, at the only open side gate to the facility. The main gate stayed locked.

VIKINGS CASE: The Minnesota Supreme Court cleared the way for the league to suspend Vikings defensive lineman Pat Williams, perhaps the final chapter in a closely watched anti-doping case. In a one-page order without comment, the court declined to consider Williams' appeal of a decision that went against him and teammate Kevin Williams, who isn't related. The order was signed Wednesday by Chief Justice Lorie Gildea and made public Thursday. Justice Alan Page, a former Viking, did not take part in the decision. The Williamses were to be suspended in 2008 for taking the weight-loss supplement StarCaps, which contained a banned diuretic called bumetanide that can mask steroids. They waged a fight against the suspensions in federal and state courts, and the league let them play pending final resolution of the case.

Sports in Briefs

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Times wires
Thursday, April 28, 2011

Colleges

Florida basketball to play in Tampa

GAINESVILLE — Florida's men's basketball team will return to the St. Pete Times Forum next season to face Wright State on Nov. 21, the Raiders said Thursday.

The game, part of the Global Sports Shootout which will also include a UF game against Ohio State on Nov. 11, will mark the fourth consecutive season the Gators will play in Tampa. In 2009, they played in the SEC tournament. Florida played Syracuse in 2010 and in the NCAA Tournament this past season.

More basketball: Georgia coach Mark Fox received a one-year extension through 2016 and raise from $1.3 million to $1.7 million. Last season, his second, he led the Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament.

Football: The Division I Board of Directors approved a task force to look at the criteria and process for licensing bowls and won't approve new ones until standards are in place. Spawned by financial improprieties by the Fiesta Bowl, it will look at, among other issues, sponsorship, conflict-of-interest rules and financial management of bowl games. The group will include university presidents and managers of nonprofit organizations. All 35 bowls were certified last year through 2013 but are subject to annual reviews.

Figure skating

Canadian sets marks in winning world title

One day after setting a world record in the short program, Canada's Patrick Chan set one in the free skate to win his first world title in Moscow.

Chan earned 187.96 points in the free skate, 12.12 more than Japan's Daisuke Takahashi in 2008. And his 280.98 overall points surpassed Takahashi's record by 16.57.

Japan's Takahiko Kozuka won silver, 39.57 behind.

The United States can send only two to worlds next year after its top two failed to finish with a combined placement of 13th or better. Richard Dornbush was ninth, Ross Miner 11th and U.S. champion Ryan Bradley 13th.

Pairs: Germany's Aliona Sav­chenko and Robin Szolkowy, second after the short program, set a world record in the free skate to win their third title. They earned 144.87 points, 3.06 more than China's Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo at the 2010 Olympics, to finish with a world-record 217.85, 4.49 more than Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia and 1.18 more than the world record Shen and Zhao set in Vancouver. U.S. champions Caitlin Yankowskas and John Coughlin were sixth and Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig, who train in Ellenton, ninth.

Et cetera

Politics: A federal judge upheld New Jersey's four-year residency rule, keeping track great Carl Lewis off the primary ballot for a state senate seat. He will appeal.

Soccer: MLS banned Colorado's Brian Mullan for 10 games for a tackle that broke the right leg of Seattle's Steve Zakuani. The ban is MLS's longest for a foul.

Swimming: American Jessica Hardy, a world breaststroke champion who missed the 2008 Olympics for a doping violation, was cleared for the 2012 Games.

Antonya English, Times staff writer; Times wires

Sean Bergenheim coming up big for Tampa Bay Lightning in playoffs

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, April 28, 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Left wing Sean Bergenheim doesn't have the size or offensive skill of some of the Lightning's top forwards.

But it was Bergenheim — all 5 feet 10, 200 pounds of him — who came up with some of the biggest goals in Tampa Bay's seven-game quarterfinal win over the Penguins. All three of his goals, including Wednesday's in the 1-0 Game 7 win, tied the score or put the Lightning ahead.

Not bad for a 26-year-old in his first NHL playoff, an appearance that continues tonight in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Capitals.

But coach Guy Boucher isn't surprised.

"We call him 'The Hustler,' " Boucher said. "He's one of those guys that the motor is running every second. You don't think he's got that much speed. You don't think he's got that much hands. You don't think he's that big. And he basically does it all. It's a nonstop relentlessness that he's got, and it's paying off."

That relentlessness serves Bergenheim well on a third line with Dominic Moore and Steve Downie. His puck pursuit on the forecheck can wreak havoc and make him a thorn in the side of opponents. And he has become valuable on the penalty-kill unit, which held Pittsburgh's power play to 1-for-35 in the series.

When the Lightning was dealing with injuries to some of its best forwards during the regular season — including Vinny Lecavalier, Simon Gagne and Steve Downie Bergenheim also helped supply an offensive lift, with 14 goals and 15 assists.

The bigger the game, the better Bergenheim was, Boucher said.

"I don't know what it is. It's something that's been there my whole career," Bergenheim said. "Ever since I was in juniors, usually in playoffs I played very well. I don't have an answer, but I'm definitely a better player when it's a tight game than an 8-1 game. I personally enjoy these games so much too."

Teammate Adam Hall, a playoff veteran, said Bergenheim is going to be a "factor in every game" because of the way he skates, how strong he is on the puck and he "just has a nose for the net."

That could be seen on Bergenheim's goals in Games 6 and Game 7 against Pittsburgh, which resulted from a play practiced often between him and Moore. Moore, who raced behind the Penguins net on a misdirection attempt, said he knew Bergenheim would be there trailing on the backside and be ready for a back pass.

"I never had any doubts that Bergie would play his best hockey at this time of year," Moore said. "He has that mentality. He's just a smart player. He's an aggressive player. I think you see that he relishes these big games. For him to play the way he has says a lot about his character."

MISCELLANY: One reason Tampa Bay is hosting Games 3 and 4 against the Capitals back to back on Tuesday and Wednesday is because USF is holding its graduation at the St. Pete Times Forum on Thursday. … The league announced Game 3 will start at 6:30 p.m. … Boucher appears to be leaning toward a similar lineup for tonight as he used in the three consecutive wins against Pittsburgh, with seven defensemen (including Marc-Andre Bergeron) and 11 forwards.

Indians 8, Royals 2

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Times wires
Thursday, April 28, 2011

Indians 8, Royals 2

CLEVELAND — Fausto Carmona pitched seven solid innings and was backed by four homers as the Indians won their 10th straight home game. The Royals lost their sixth straight. Shin-Soo Choo and Carlos Santana hit two-out homers in the first, and Grady Sizemore led off the third and Shelley Duncan the fourth with homers.

Nationals 4, Mets 3

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Times wires
Thursday, April 28, 2011

Nationals 4, Mets 3

WASHINGTON — New father Ian Desmond homered and tripled in his first game back from paternity leave and Livan Hernandez pitched eight strong innings for the Nationals. Desmond's solo home run in the fifth gave Washington a 4-2 lead. The loss ended the Mets' six-game winning streak, their longest since winning eight straight in June. Ike Davis had a single, a double and an RBI for New York, extending his hitting streak to 10 games.

Red Sox 6, Orioles 2

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Times wires
Thursday, April 28, 2011

Red Sox 6, Orioles 2

BALTIMORE — Jon Lester improved to 14-0 all-time against the Orioles with eight strong innings, Dustin Pedroia hit a tiebreaking infield single and the Red Sox averted a three-game sweep. After Derrek Lee's RBI single in the first, Lester didn't allow another hit until Vladimir Guerrero's homer in the sixth. Carl Crawford, who led off the seventh with a double, scored when third baseman Mark Reynolds bobbled Pedroia's slow roller.

Jones ties Watson at Zurich with late chip

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Times wires


Thursday, April 28, 2011

AVONDALE, La. — Matt Jones chipped in from 57 feet on his final hole for 6-under 66 and a share of the first-round lead with Bubba Watson on Thursday in the Zurich Classic.

Watson and Jones played in the afternoon in better scoring conditions after a strong north wind made morning play more difficult.

"The greens are perfect. And I played well," Jones said. "… I actually made a lot of putts today and chipped in on the last to finish the round, which is good."

Jones had eight birdies and two bogeys. Playing the back nine first, the Australian reeled off four consecutive birdies beginning at the par-4 16th.

Watson, the winner at Torrey Pines in late January, two-putted from 32 feet for eagle on the par-5 11th and had six birdies and two bogeys at TPC Louisiana.

He entered the tournament as a favor to his mother. "My mom always comes to this golf tournament, so when my mom says she wants to come, I'm here," Watson said. "And somehow I shot 6 under today."

Joe Durant, Tommy Gainey, Carl Pettersson, John Rollins, Nick O'Hern and David Duval opened with 67s.

Luke Donald, a playoff loser last week at Hilton Head in a failed bid to jump from No. 3 to No. 1 in the world, was in a group at 68.

LPGA: Grace Park and Song-Hee Kim shot 5-under 67 to share the first-round lead in the Avnet Classic in Mobile, Ala., the tour's only event in a six-week stretch.

Park eagled the par-5 13th and had five birdies and two bogeys on the Crossings course at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail's Magnolia Grove complex. She won the last of her six LPGA Tour titles in 2004.

Park missed the pro-am Wednesday to rest her surgically repaired back. She has failed to make the cut in her three previous tour starts.

"Overall, my back's been better than it has in the last five, six years," Park said. "I'm feeling really strong. I'm feeling really good."

Kim, winless on the tour, had seven birdies and two bogeys.

Stacey Lewis, the Kraft Nabisco winner three weeks ago, was a stroke back at 68 along with Karen Stupples.

European: Top-ranked Lee Westwood finished the first round of the Ballantine's Championship in Seoul, South Korea, with a double bogey, falling six shots behind leader Damien McGrane (6-under 66). Westwood (72), who regained the No. 1 world ranking last week, backed off shots twice in the last three holes because of clicking noises from photo takers, dropping three shots in that time.


Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn with first-round pick

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By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, April 28, 2011

Bucs' first-round picks by position

Defensive linemen — 10

Offensive linemen — 6

Linebackers — 4

Running backs — 4

Quarterbacks — 4

Defensive backs — 2

Receivers — 2

Thursday's first round by school

4: Alabama 2: Auburn, Baylor, Colorado, Missouri, Wisconsin 1: Boston College, Cal, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, LSU, Mississippi State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio State, Pitt, Purdue, Southern Cal, Temple, Texas A&M, Washington

TAMPA — General manager Mark Dominik knows the Bucs are in an arms race in the NFC South with quarterback Josh Freeman, the Saints' Drew Brees, the Falcons' Matt Ryan and the Panthers' newest long-range weapon, first overall pick Cam Newton.

He believes the team that puts the most pressure on those passers will win the division.

That's why on Thursday, the Bucs selected Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn with the 20th overall pick in the draft.

Dominik said Clayborn will play right end for a defense that finished tied for 30th in the NFL in sacks with 26.

The 6-foot-3, 287-pound senior will line up alongside tackle Gerald McCoy, last year's No. 3 overall pick who had three sacks before missing the final month of the season with a torn left biceps.

"He's going to continue to generate the push and the pressure we want to attack and apply to quarterbacks in our division now that we have Cam Newton as well," Dominik said.

Clayborn was the fifth defensive end selected, behind Missouri's Aldon Smith (No. 7 to the 49ers), Wisconsin's J.J. Watt (No. 11 to the Texans), North Carolina's Robert Quinn (No. 14 to the Rams) and Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan (No. 16 to the Redskins).

Last year, the Bucs used their first two picks on McCoy and UCLA defensive tackle Brian Price, who was limited to five games by a pelvic fracture.

Clayborn finished his Iowa career with 30 consecutive starts, 192 tackles, 37 tackles for loss and 19 sacks. But after recording 111/2 as a junior, his sacks fell to 31/2 last season.

"Teams knew my play was still there, but my numbers were down because of double-teams and things like that," Clayborn said. "It wasn't a concern. My motor was still going, and my skills were still there. It's not like I lost a step."

Clayborn overcame long odds to become a football player, let alone a first-round pick. Doctors did not want Clayborn to play contact sports in high school because of nerve damage suffered in his neck and right arm while being born, a condition called Erb's or brachial palsy.

But he endured to become the emotional leader of the Hawkeyes defense and a two-time team captain.

"I was told I couldn't play football, and that kind of started me behind the eight ball," Clayborn said. "But I've been building up strength in my shoulder since then. It's there. Nothing is wrong with it. There's not much to say about it."

Clayborn had some off-field trouble. He was charged with assaulting an Iowa City taxi driver in January 2009. He reportedly confronted the driver for honking his horn during a traffic jam. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct in March 2010 but was not suspended by Iowa coaches because they believed the situation required only minor internal penalties.

"The bottom line is nothing happened in terms of altercations with the football team," Dominik said. "He was voted a two-time captain after that incident."

The Bucs had downplayed their desperation for a pass-rusher and didn't want to be pigeonholed at that position in the first round. But coach Raheem Morris wanted to add another defensive lineman to help take some pressure off McCoy and others.

"You bring a Rambo-type mentality to your football team," Morris said. "A boy dog, so to speak. A guy that's going to go out there and hunt not only the quarterback, but anybody who has the football."

Shortly after he was drafted, Clayborn got a phone call from McCoy welcoming him to the team.

"He said that he was excited. He thought they were going to get a good pick and they got a great pick," Clayborn said. "He's excited, and I'm excited to work with him and everybody else.

"(He told me) that he's going to guide me the right way through this whole process, and I'm excited to have a guy like that who's going to help me it."

McCoy later tweeted, "Just talked to the newest Buc @AjaClay and welcomed him to the team. He told me he is overjoyed to be Buc! He's ready y'all. HERE WE GO."

Breaking down Day 1 of the NFL draft

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Times staff, wires
Thursday, April 28, 2011

1. Carolina

Cam Newton, QB, Auburn

The Panthers apparently are convinced the skills that led to Newton's breakout senior season, which earned him the Heisman Trophy, can transfer to the NFL. Newton likely will be asked to start immediately and become the face of a franchise that isn't blessed with a ton of talent. Strengths are his arm strength, speed and elusiveness. But questions linger about the precision of his throws, his ability to read defenses and his transition to a more complicated game plan.

2. Denver

Von Miller, LB, Texas A&M

Miller's expertise in college was rushing the passer. Extremely athletic with good power, Miller led the nation with 17 sacks as a junior and added 101/2 in 2010. Able to play out of numerous formations, Miller was an easy pick for new coach John Fox, who inherited the worst defense in the NFL that also had the fewest sacks (23). Many consider him the best player in the draft.

3. Buffalo

Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama

Considered the best defensive lineman in the draft, Dareus has explosive power off the ball and is able to split the gap and disrupt the play. Very strong against the run, he can play three positions in Buffalo's 3-4 defense, including nose tackle. He was named the MVP of Alabama's national championship win over Texas in January 2010.

4. Cincinnati

A.J. Green, WR, Georgia

The Bengals don't have a quarterback with Carson Palmer apparently on his way out. But they picked up, perhaps, the best offensive player in the draft. Green has that rare combination of size (6 feet 4, 211 pounds) and speed that has some comparing him to Keyshawn Johnson and Randy Moss. Tough in traffic with great hands, he leaves after his junior season second in school history in touchdowns (23) and yards (2,542).

5. Arizona

Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU

Probably not their greatest need, Peterson is a product of the "best available athlete" approach by the Cardinals. Compared to Deion Sanders and Charles Woodson, Peterson has great speed and range and also could be a valuable weapon as a return specialist.

Chilly reception

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was soundly booed by the Radio City Music Hall crowd when he was introduced then heard chants of, "We want football." Goodell acknowledged the response, saying, "I hear you" and, "So do we." The crowd quieted down only when Goodell called some Crimson Tide players and coaches to the podium and asked for a moment of silence for those killed and injured during this week's devastating storms in Alabama.

Welcomed relief

For Marcell Dareus, the Alabama defensive tackle taken third by Buffalo, providing for his family is an enviable goal. His father died when he was 6, leaving his mother to raise seven children.

Dareus even stayed with his high school coach and godfather, Lester Reasor, for a while when things were really difficult and lived with a sponsor family in college. He knows an NFL paycheck will be an enormous help to his family, especially after his mother died in May.

"We're all struggling in certain ways," Dareus said of his family, which includes two brothers now living in California. "(An NFL paycheck) will be a big benefit to help my brothers and sisters to the point we can do something in life."

The NFL has been a dream of Dareus' since he played on the swings in fifth grade and people took notice of his size.

"I didn't have the money for it. But we played, and we had a good time," Dareus said. "I started watching Warren Sapp, what he did, and I'm like, 'Why can't I do that?' So I pushed myself to do what he did."

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Jeff Niemann encouraged by first good outing of season

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, April 28, 2011

MINNEAPOLIS — RHP Jeff Niemann lost his bid for a no-hitter in the seventh — and yes, he was aware of it — but he otherwise couldn't have been more pleased with his performance as he won for the first time after four rough starts.

"It's something that I needed," he said. "The team's been playing so well and I felt like I was that guy that's stopping the momentum the whole time. So it's great to keep the momentum going and just get a win. It's great."

Niemann finished with seven solid innings, allowing one run on two hits, with one walk and two strikeouts. The biggest difference from his first four starts, in which he allowed 19 runs (16 earned) and 28 hits in 20 innings, was that he kept the ball down, he had a very good curve and he worked off his fastball.

"I know that has to do a ton for his confidence," manager Joe Maddon said. "That was very big because that really can get him back in a groove. He's a guy from a couple years who taught us that he may struggle a bit but when he catches fire he gets really hot. And hopefully this is the game that is going to catapult him. He looked more like he did prior to his injury last year."

S-ROD HURT: INF Sean Rodriguez dislocated his lefty pinky during a freak sequence in the eighth when he slid into second base and his hand collided with Twins SS Matt Tolbert's foot.

"All my fingers were pointing one direction and that one was pointing in the other one, and I said that's not supposed to do that," he said.

Rodriguez said an MRI exam showed there was a tear in the ligament, but he hoped to be able to play through it and avoid going on the disabled list. The Rays won't make any decisions until seeing how swollen it is today and whether he can grip a bat.

DH BLUES: The April 13 rainout in Boston will be made up as the matinee portion of a day-night doubleheader Aug. 16. The Rays had hoped to play on Aug. 15, a mutual day off when they would already be in Boston after playing in New York. But the Red Sox, who will be coming back from Seattle, wanted to wait until the 16th. The teams already have a day game scheduled for Aug. 17, so they will play three times in about 27 hours.

TWEET THIS: OF Sam Fuld, at the urging of the master, David Price, joined the Twitter world and had more than 4,000 followers by the end of Thursday. Fuld said he'll Tweet himself and may use the forum to raise awareness, and even money, for juvenile diabetes efforts. He had to use @SamFuld5 for his account because — who knew? — there is another legit Sam Fuld out there and on Twitter. "I'm looking at David as my role model," Fuld said. "I don't know if I can fill those shoes."

REHAB REPORT: LHP J.P. Howell worked a 1-2-3 first inning in his rehab start for Class A Charlotte, striking out one and throwing just nine pitches (then 16 more in the bullpen). He's set to make the fourth of his 10 scheduled rehab appearances on Monday, aiming for mid May return after missing all of last season with a shoulder injury that required surgery.

MINOR MATTERS: RHP Dirk Hayhurst, the popular writer/blogger/Tweeter off to a solid start at Triple-A Durham (1-0, 2.42 in four starts), was placed on the DL with a sore elbow. RHP Jeremy Hall was promoted from Double-A Montgomery to take his place. … RHP Jake Thompson, a prospect at Class A Charlotte, left his Wednesday start after two innings due to elbow tightness.

MISCELLANY: When Evan Longoria returns to the No. 3 spot in the order, Ben Zobrist and Matt Joyce are the likely choices for the cleanup spot, Maddon said. … The temperature rose 16 degrees from the start of Game 1 (41 degrees) to Game 2 (57). … A day/night doubleheader isn't technically considered a doubleheader, but this was just the second time in the 17 times the Rays had two games in one day that they won them both; also, at Baltimore, Sept. 23, 2008. … DH Johnny Damon not only extended his hitting streak to 16 games, longest for a Ray in April and three off the overall team mark, he also took over 76th place on the all-time hits list with 2,595.

Shooting from the lip

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By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, April 28, 2011

St. Petersburg Times staff writer Tom Jones offers up his Two Cents on the world of sports.

Team of the day

The Lightning has a new owner, a new general manager and new coach and, apparently, a new and improved following. Not only here, but across the globe.

Let's start with the big picture. In terms of traffic to NHL.com, the Tampa Bay market ranks No. 1 in the league with a 111 percent increase over the past year and is approaching the top 10 among all U.S. markets.

Locally, Wednesday's Game 7 against the Penguins drew huge numbers (at least for hockey) on Sun Sports. The Lightning's thrilling 1-0 victory delivered a 4.5 local rating, making it the highest-rated Lightning playoff game on Sun Sports in eight years. That means nearly 81,000 households were tuned in. It was a 25 percent increase over the first round of the 2007 playoffs, the last time the Lightning made the postseason.

The 4.5 rating is about three to four times the rating Sun Sports received for the first four games of the Lightning-Penguins series.

Charity of the day

ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale told the St. Petersburg Times on Thursday that his 2011 Dick Vitale Gala for cancer research on May 20 in Sarasota is sold out. However, those who want to get on a waiting list, or wish to make a donation, can go to DickVitale Online.com or call toll-free 1-800-454-6698. Vitale's goal, as it is every year, is to raise $1 million. This year's event includes all of the 2011 Final Four coaches (UConn's Jim Calhoun, Butler's Brad Stevens, Kentucky's John Calipari and Virginia Commonwealth's Shaka Smart), as well as sports personalities such as Jon Gruden, Erin Andrews, Billy Donovan, Jimbo Fisher and others. This year's gala will honor Calipari and North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams, and be hosted by ESPN's John Saunders.

NBA ratings

The first round of the NBA playoffs has been compelling and it's showing up in the television ratings.

For example, TNT, which is televising part of the playoffs, averaged 1.7 million viewers per day last week (that's over a 24-hour period), making it the best total-day audience ever. It also helped TNT to its best April ever as it led all cable networks in prime time averaging 3.5 million viewers. The next-closest cable channel was USA Network with 2.8 million viewers. The first week of NBA playoff games on TNT averaged 4.3 million viewers, which is a 39 percent increase over last year.

Meantime, NBA TV's broadcast of Game 3 of the Bulls-Pacers series averaged 652,000 viewers, making it the most-viewed playoff game in that network's history.

Compare thatto a Bruins-Canadiens playoff hockey game on Versus on the same night. That game averaged 599,000 viewers. However, it should be noted that game included a Canadian team and could not be seen in the Boston area because of blackout rules.

Website of the day

Popular ESPN.com columnist Bill Simmons revealed some of the details of his new website, which will launch in June. It will be called Grantland.com with the name honoring legendary sportswriter Grantland Rice. The site will combine sports and pop culture and feature stories in a variety of ways, from long features to columns to blog posts to podcasts.

Simmons will write while serving as the website's editor-in-chief. Dan Fierman, a former senior editor at GQ, will be lead editor. Consulting editors include best-selling author and noted magazine writer Chuck Klosterman, book author and New Yorker feature writer Malcolm Gladwell and Dave Eggers, the Pulitzer Prize finalist and founder of McSweeney's, the independent publishing house.

"We wanted original voices, and we found a bunch of them already," Simmons said. "We're going to take chances, come up with a few premises and ideas that you haven't seen before, and be consistently entertaining day after day. You will never know what to expect when you come to the site — in a good way. That's our ultimate goal."

Media tidbits

• Michele Tafoya, right, best known for being a sideline reporter on Monday Night Football, is leaving ESPN. It's believed she is headed to NBC, perhaps to work on Sunday Night Football.

E:60, ESPN's news magazine show, will do a feature next week on former Rays slugger Jonny Gomes and how he nearly died from a heart attack in 2002. Reporter Chris Connelly examines Gomes' roller-coaster life in a feature that will run on Tuesday's show at 7 p.m.

Three things that popped into my head

1. Everyone around here knows how good the Lightning's Marty St. Louis is, but it was nice to see that the hockey media in the rest of the United States and Canada knows it, too, by voting St. Louis as one of the finalists for league MVP.

2. Juggling national TV and building availability, it isn't easy for the NHL to make the playoff schedule, but there is absolutely no way the Lightning and Capitals should be forced to play on back-to-back nights in Games 3 and 4, or to play three games in four nights. We are down to the league's quarterfinal round and it's ridiculous to ask two teams to play with playoff intensity two nights in a row and three times in four days.

3. Did you see where a Yankees employee accidently sent out to several hundred season-ticket holders the personal information of 17,000 partial and full season-ticket holders? The leaked information includes names, e-mail and home addresses. That would be no big deal for most teams, but with the Yankees, you would have to think there are at least a few A-list celebrities on the list.

List of the day

With today's royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, at right, ESPN.com's Jim Caple listed his five "athlete-royal'' weddings of all time — that is, weddings that involved a pair of athletes. Caple's top five:

1. Tennis stars Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf.

2. Soccer's Mia Hamm and baseball's Nomar Garciaparra.

3. Basketball's Anne Meyer and baseball's Don Drysdale.

4. Olympic cyclists Connie Carpenter and Davis Phinney.

5. Tennis star Chris Evert and golf's Greg Norman ... or skiing's Andy Mills ... or tennis' John Lloyd.

Yankees 12, White Sox 3

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Times wires
Thursday, April 28, 2011

NEW YORK — Brett Gardner led off the Yankees' six-run fifth inning with a homer for their first hit of the game, and Nick Swisher homered and had four RBIs in New York's 12-3 rout of the White Sox on Thursday night.

CC Sabathia pitched seven sharp innings to improve to 17-4 against Chicago and help New York gain a split of the four-game series. Swisher hit his first homer in 76 at-bats this season and he, Nunez and Gardner scored three runs each. Every Yankees starter except Nunez had at least one RBI.

Curtis Granderson tripled, Alex Rodriguez and Nunez doubled and Swisher broke an 0-for-19 slump with a single in the fifth. New York sent nine batters to the plate before making an out in the inning.

The White Sox never awoke from their hitting slumber in this series but won the first two games thanks to solid starting pitching. Chicago heads home after a 3-8 road trip in which it scored more than three runs in only one game.

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