Times wires
Sunday, May 1, 2011

Padres 7, Dodgers 0

LOS ANGELES — Dustin Moseley pitched seven shutout innings for his first victory, and former Ray Brad Hawpe doubled his RBI total for the season with a two-run single for the Padres. Andre Ethier extended his hitting streak to 27 games when he led off the Dodgers seventh with a single up the first-base line and off Hawpe's glove as he tried to backhand it behind the bag.

Times wires
Sunday, May 1, 2011

RICHMOND, Va. — Denny Hamlin, in desperate need of a victory, had no issues with settling for second behind teammate Kyle Busch in Saturday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway.

Why not? The start of the season has been so bad for Hamlin, an eight-race winner last season and the runnerup to Jimmie Johnson in points, that coming in second was a huge step.

It was his first top-five finish this season and only his second top-10 in nine races.

"I'm ecstatic, to be honest with you," he said. "You can't be mad at second place. Yeah, I want to win, trust me. It burns that you didn't win. But how we didn't win I can live with."

Hamlin didn't win because he'd shared so much information over the years in Joe Gibbs Racing debriefs, which helped Busch improve at Richmond. Busch's victory Saturday was his third consecutive in Richmond's spring race, and he and Hamlin have combined to win the past five races at the short track.

Busch admitted Hamlin's tutorials have helped him immensely, and said he picked up something specific from Hamlin's victory in September.

"Denny did do a nice job at helping me here a little bit last fall," Busch said. "I used the information. I kind of used it all throughout the race."

Hamlin's poor start to the season led to a report that a swap of crews for Hamlin and teammate Joey Logano was "imminent," something JGR rebuked. Hamlin has stood by crew chief Mike Ford, as has the rest of the team.

"I think they have faith in each other," team president J.D. Gibbs said. "We've been through it with all of our drivers over the years. So I think to have a good run at a place where you should run well, I think that was encouraging."

INDYCAR: The Sao Paulo 300 was postponed until today (8 a.m., Versus) because of heavy rain. The street race barely got underway in wet conditions — and saw two major wrecks and several spins within a few laps — before the rain got heavier, bringing out a red flag. The race was stopped for more than two hours and officials tried to restart it, but conditions never got any better and the event was postponed after just 14 laps, 11 under yellow.

NHRA: Vincent Nobile, 19, became the youngest winner in the 41-year history of the Pro Stock class, beating Rodger Brogdon in the final at the NHRA Spring Nationals in Baytown, Texas. Del Worsham (Top Fuel), Jeff Arend (Funny Car), and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won their divisions.

EAST BAY RACEWAY: Forrest Gough won the Late Model main event Saturday in Gibsonton.

Times wires
Sunday, May 1, 2011

ATLANTA — Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell was suspended for two weeks without pay Sunday by Major League Baseball for inappropriate comments and gestures he made toward fans before a game in San Francisco.

The suspension is retroactive to Friday, when McDowell was placed on administrative leave by the Braves. He was fined an undisclosed amount for the April 23 incident.

McDowell will be required to complete sensitivity training and will have to apologize directly to the fans involved, Justin Quinn and his family.

Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement Sunday that insensitivity to others "simply cannot and will not be tolerated."

"I understand that Mr. McDowell is very contrite about his conduct, and hopefully this incident will be used to increase public awareness of the importance of sensitivity to others," Selig said.

Quinn said he was in the stands with his wife and 9-year-old twin daughters before the game when he noticed McDowell ask three men, "Are you guys a homo couple or a threesome?"

Quinn said McDowell made crude sexual gestures with his hips and a bat. Quinn said he shouted, "Hey, there are kids out here."

According to Quinn, McDowell said kids don't belong at a ballpark, picked up a bat, walked up to Quinn and asked him, "How much are your teeth worth?"

McDowell issued an apology Thursday and, according to the release from the commissioner's office, asked last week to apologize directly to Quinn and his family. The apology was being delayed until the investigation was completed.

"I understand the decision made today by the commissioner," McDowell said in a statement Sunday. "I am embarrassed by my actions and I plan to give a personal apology to Mr. Quinn and his family. I would also like to offer a public and heartfelt apology to the fans of San Francisco, to the Atlanta Braves organization, my family and to Major League Baseball."

PEDRO DONE: RHP Pedro Martinez has virtually ruled out a return to the majors and said he is on his way to retirement.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner, 38, has not pitched in the majors since 2009.

"I keep active because I have not announced my retirement, because that is something that takes time and you have to plan it. Plus, it is something that the Dominican people expected," Martinez said in an interview in his native Dominican Republic.

CARDINALS: 3B David Freese broke a bone in his left hand when he was hit by a pitch. It's unknown how long he'll be out. … 2B Nick Punto was removed in the fourth inning with tightness in his left hamstring.

DODGERS: LH reliever Hong-Chih Kuo was activated from the 15-day disabled list, and RH reliever Kenley Jansen was optioned to Double-A Chattanooga.

GIANTS: 3B Pablo Sandoval, expected to miss four to six weeks with a broken right wrist, went on the disabled list, and 3B Ryan Rohlinger was called up from Triple-A Fresno.

PIRATES: OF Jose Tabata sat out so he could rest his sore right hamstring.

RANGERS: Closer Neftali Feliz, on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation, is scheduled to throw a bullpen session today and could make a minor-league rehab appearance before returning to the big leagues Friday.

RED SOX: RHP Josh Beckett, who struggled Wednesday coming off a 125-pitch start against the Angels, is expected to have his next start pushed back at least two days to Wednesday.

TIGERS: C/DH Victor Martinez, on the disabled list with a strained right groin, is scheduled to start a rehab assignment today with Triple-A Toledo.

YANKEES: Veteran RHP Kevin Millwood, 36, opted out of his contract, which he could do if he wasn't called up from the minors by Sunday.

Times wires
Sunday, May 1, 2011

Marlins 9, Reds 5

CINCINNATI — Hanley Ramirez hit his first home run of the season and the Marlins went deep a season-high five times. John Buck homered to snap a seventh-inning tie. Greg Dobbs, Mike Stanton and Emilio Bonifacio also connected for Florida, which has won eight of 11. Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips homered for the Reds.

Times wires
Sunday, May 1, 2011

Athletics 7, Rangers 2

OAKLAND, Calif. — Conor Jackson had two hits and two RBIs, Gio Gonzalez pitched into the seventh to snap a three-start skid and the Athletics snapped out of a scoring slump. Leadoff hitter Coco Crisp added two hits in his return to the lineup to help Oakland score more than six for the fourth time this season. The Rangers lost for the fifth time in seven games.

Times wires
Sunday, May 1, 2011

NEW YORK — If these are not fun times for football fans, they are captivating days for lawyers.

The NFL lockout is back in force after a short hiatus last week. A St. Louis appeals court could determine as early as today whether the league deserves a permanent stay of an injunction granted to the players in Minnesota to block the lockout.

"We are in uncharted but fascinating legal territory," agent and attorney Ralph Cindrich said as he examined the short-term reinstatement of the lockout by three judges from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. "The owners' lockout is temporary now; it can become permanent after the same three judges do a detailed review. If the lockout is reinstated, it puts the players down on points big."

If it's not, something Cindrich predicts, league business could resume almost immediately, even as more NFL appeals are filed. Cindrich believes that though those judges voted 2-1 on Friday to review the matter, they won't overturn Judge Susan Richard Nelson's original determination that the lockout was preventing the players from earning a living.

With the draft over, the 32 teams can't contact players. That includes veterans along with rookies just selected. That also means undrafted free agents, who usually sign shortly after the draft.

"You just do what you do and abide by the guidelines the league puts out as we go along," Rams general manager Billy Devaney said. "Everybody's in the same boat; we're not stressing out or anything. It'll eventually get settled, and you just go with it."

Going with it for the players means training on their own. For first-round picks, it means devouring the playbooks they got during Friday's short opportunity.

For coaches, it means evaluating how they addressed their needs in the draft and which undrafted players they might approach when allowed to do so.

Dallas coach Jason Garrett has all his plans organized for offseason workouts and minicamps.

"What we did is we laid out the entire calendar for the offseason assuming there was no lockout," Garrett said. "So all of those dates were in place soon after the season ended. But obviously we had to be responsive to the lockout and when the players came back, and we'll continue to do that based on what the new rules are."

Those rules are uncertain even if the players win the next round in the appeals court. Among the league's options is reinstating the 2010 guidelines, which featured more limited free agency and no salary cap — and no minimum for spending.

"It's a chaotic time," said Ben Dogra, agent for Sam Bradford and Patrick Willis, among many other players. "There are a lot of moving points, and it means daily uncertainty."

MCQUARTERS SHOT: A Tulsa, Okla., television station reported that former cornerback R.W. McQuarters was shot Friday night after leaving a friend's house in Tulsa. KTUL-TV reported that the former Bear, Giant, 49er and Lion was shot in the back by a man wearing a ski mask. McQuarters, 34, drove himself to a hospital and was recovering.

RAVENS: The Baltimore Sun reported that the team won't pursue tampering charges against the Cardinals over quarterback Marc Bulger. A predraft report said that the Cardinals "had an understanding" with Bulger, Baltimore's backup. But tampering would be difficult to prove.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, May 1, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Coming to the majors was quite a thrill for Rays RHP Alex Cobb. But his experience would have turned out better if he hadn't been letting the Angels hitters know what pitches were coming.

The Rays noticed early that the Angels had figured something out, apparently that Cobb was tipping his fastball, and pitching coach Jim Hickey took the unusual action of bringing Cobb up to the video room between innings to show him.

"It was obvious from the way they were swinging and not swinging they were on to something," Hickey said. "I don't think they knew change or curveball, but I think they knew hard or soft, and it becomes a heck of a lot easier."

Cobb, 23, tried to adjust but didn't show the command of his fastball the Rays expected. Between that complication and the nerves of his major-league debut, what with 40 friends and relatives (including his Purple Heart-winning brother R.J., who just got back from an Army assignment in Germany and flew down for the day from his new base in Missouri) watching, it may have been a little much.

"I wasn't trying to think about it," Cobb said, "but obviously it probably was in the back of my mind and it affected me a little bit."

He worked 41/3, charged with four runs, more troubled by the four walks than the four hits.

"This team has been on a roll for the past 3-4 weeks, just been tearing through people, and I don't want to come up here and slow that momentum down," he said. "After getting a five-run lead in the first you expect to just go out there and throw strikes and get your team at least into the fifth. That's what I'm upset about, not being able to go that long."

Otherwise, the Rays were pleased with what they saw.

"Oh man, he's going to be good for a long time," Hickey said. "I compare him really closely with (Jeremy) Hellickson in terms of fastball command, though that wasn't there today which I think is a byproduct of what we've been talking about. … He's going to have a great career."

ROSTER SHUFFLE: Cobb, as planned, was optioned back to Triple A after the game. He'll be replaced before Tuesday's game by a reliever, with RHP Brandon Gomes, a 26-year-old acquired from the Padres in the Jason Bartlett trade, seemingly the most likely choice. He is 6-for-6 in saves and has a 1.35 ERA in 11 games at Durham.

The Rays also plan to activate 3B Evan Longoria from the disabled list and are likely to drop veteran INF Felipe Lopez, who could be lost on waivers.

MEDICAL MATTERS: OF Sam Fuld was back with just slight bruising on his left eyelid, having been struck just above the eye by a bunted ball Saturday.

"I was hoping for worse," Fuld joked. "A war wound."

Fuld had concussion tests and a CAT scan Saturday night (both negative) and said he was ready to play Sunday but admitted the sequence left him shaken.

"It was scary," he said. "I can still see the image of the ball coming right at my face."

Fuld snapped his career-worst 0-for-18 streak with a first-inning double.

REHAB REPORT: LHP J.P. Howell (left shoulder surgery) made the fourth of 10 scheduled rehab appearances, working an inning for Class A Charlotte, throwing 20 pitches in allowing one hit and one walk. He'll move up to Durham and pitch Thursday, on track for a mid May return. … Longoria (left oblique strain) was off Sunday and plays his final rehab game tonight for Double-A Montgomery.

MISCELLANY: Manager Joe Maddon said that with today and next Monday off they may shuffle the rotation so that David Price and James Shields don't have too much rest between starts. … RF Matt Joyce had his team-high ninth multi-hit game and is hitting an AL-high .443 since April 10. … INF Sean Rodriguez returned after sitting out two games due to a dislocated left pinkie.

Times wires
Sunday, May 1, 2011

CINCINNATI — A South Carolina stay-at-home mom who's legally blind won the women's race at the 13th annual Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati on Sunday, her first marathon victory.

Amy McDonaugh from Irmo, S.C., crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 58 minutes, 14 seconds, winning by almost four minutes.

McDonaugh, 34, ran the 26.2-mile route without a guide. Though she has no peripheral vision, is blind in one eye and has poor vision in the other, she can see straight ahead.

"I have three children and because of I'm legally blind I'm a stay-at-home mom," McDonaugh said. "After the third child, I needed to get out of the house.

"My husband would say, 'See you in 20 minutes,' and that turned into an hour. I love it because it's something I can do. I could never play sports or anything like that. This is the one sport I could do."

A longtime baseball fan, in the late 1980s she developed a close relationship with San Francisco Giants players and then-coach Dusty Baker through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Tonight, McDonaugh will throw out the first pitch for the Reds, managed by Baker, when they host the Astros.

"It's amazing to think of where I came from when I first met Dusty on the field and where I am now in a completely different situation," said McDonaugh, who apologized for bumping other runners at the start.

Times wires
Sunday, May 1, 2011

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The defensemen are scoring, the high-scoring forwards are working in the defensive zone and Antti Niemi is playing the way he did when he knocked San Jose out of the playoffs a year ago.

That added up to another win for the Sharks.

Ian White and Niclas Wallin scored their first goals of the postseason and Niemi made 33 saves in a 2-1 victory over Detroit on Sunday that gave San Jose a 2-0 series lead.

Niemi, who led Chicago's sweep of San Jose in last season's West final, helped kill two early penalties, including a double-minor.

"We like him on our side a lot better," wing Dany Heatley said. "He's a steady guy. He makes the saves he should make. And he makes a lot of saves he shouldn't make."

Wallin's goal was just his fourth in 83 playoff games.

"I'm not that kind of guy (who scores a lot)," he said. "But I can shoot the puck, too. Just let it go and see what happens; a lucky bounce."

Last season, the Sharks eliminated the Red Wings in five games in the West semifinals. While Detroit could blame a lack of rest for falling into a 3-0 hole then (following a seven-game first-round series), it was well-rested this time after sweeping Phoenix.

The Red Wings finally broke through with a power-play goal by Henrik Zetterberg with 6:02 left. But they couldn't get the equalizer, the best chance coming when Nicklas Lidstrom hit the post late.

"We weren't good enough," said coach Mike Babcock, whose team has lost 10 of 12 to San Jose overall. "They won more battles than we did. By doing that, they end up with the puck more times than we do.

"They held serve at home. We have to lick our wounds on the flight home."

First Period—1, San Jose, I. White 1 (Heatley, Clowe), 4:54 (pp). Penalties—Clowe, SJ (roughing), :59; Abdelkader, Det (high-sticking), 3:11; Ferriero, SJ, double minor (high-sticking), 6:23; Bertuzzi, Det (roughing), 16:08; Vlasic, SJ (roughing), 16:08; Zetterberg, Det (high-sticking), 17:27.

Second Period—None. Penalties—Holmstrom, Det (holding), 2:27; Pavelski, SJ (interference), 3:29; Bertuzzi, Det (roughing), 6:36; Eager, SJ (roughing), 6:36; Eager, SJ, misconduct, 8:37; Rafalski, Det (delay of game), 9:33.

Third Period—2, San Jose, Wallin 1 (Clowe, Couture), 1:39. 3, Detroit, Zetterberg 1 (Datsyuk, Holmstrom), 13:58 (pp). Penalties—Thornton, SJ (interference), 2:50; Holmstrom, Det (roughing), 3:27; Setoguchi, SJ (slashing), 13:22. Shots on Goal—Detroit 12-9-13—34. San Jose 7-19-11—37. Power-play opportunities—Detroit 1 of 6; San Jose 1 of 5. Goalies—Detroit, Howard 4-2-0 (37 shots-35 saves). San Jose, Niemi 5-2-0 (34-33). A—17,562 (17,562).

Flyers: Coach Peter Laviolette, who has used three goaltenders this postseason, declined to reveal who will start tonight's Game 2 against the Bruins. In Saturday's Game 1, Brian Boucher allowed five goals before being replaced by Sergei Bobrovsky, who hadn't played since being pulled in Game 2 of the first round. Michael Leighton also has seen action, including starting Game 6 against Buffalo.

Late Saturday: Matt Halischuk scored with 5:09 left in the second overtime as the visiting Predators evened their series with a 2-1 victory over the Canucks. Ryan Suter forced overtime for Nashville, sending a shot from behind the goal line off goalie Roberto Luongo and into the net with 1:07 left in regulation. Pekka Rinne made 18 of his 32 saves in overtime for the Predators. Then Nick Spaling took Suter's entry pass and fed the puck cross-ice to Halischuk, who snapped a shot over a sprawling defender and Luongo's glove.

By Andy Villamarzo, Times Correspondent
Sunday, May 1, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — No sight was more inspiring than seeing triple-amputee Rajesh Durbal, an Orlando resident, run across the finish line at the St. Anthony's Triathlon on Sunday morning.

"I had a good time being out there with all my friends," said Durbal, 34, who finished fourth (2 hours, 46 minutes, 39 seconds) in the physically challenged division.

"I'm here with my dad and my Live Free team, and they travel with me wherever I go. It just feels like a one big family out there. I came out here to make a statement for myself and to people who don't think they can do a triathlon. You don't have to have the greatest bike or clothing. You just have to have faith and passion."

Durbal was born with missing bones in both legs and a partially developed right arm. He was competing in this race for the second time and improved upon last year's time of 3:04:33.

In 2010, Durbal became the world's first triple amputee to finish the Ironman championship in Kona, Hawaii.

He is the founder of Live Free and president of the Live Free Paratriathlon camp, a community outreach for the first disabled triathlon training camp in Florida.

late Start: Like last year's race, the triathlon began a bit late, the official start time moving from 6:50 a.m. to 7. Event officials wanted to make sure that all water safety teams were in place because of the choppy water, with strong wind gusts coming through the beach area. In 2009, the swim leg was canceled because conditions were deemed too rough.

Local runner wins: Kailand Cosgrove of Tarpon Springs took first in the female elite division (2:01:06).

Cosgrove, 21, has been a regular in the race since she was 15. A cross-country star at Tarpon Springs High four years ago, she now competes for Florida State.

"I felt really good during the swim and on the bike," Cosgrove said. "I kept a good pace, so it was a really good day. Pretty much a perfect race. My whole family is here, and my dad and sister are still out there running. They're just so supportive of me."

Collegiate national champion Kaitlin Shiver, 21, who raced at UF, finished ninth in the women's division in 1;56:27.

honoring fallen officers: Dressed up in wigs, sunglasses and homemade team T-shirts, the Shake N Bake relay ran for the fallen police officers of St. Petersburg.

The team consisted of Phillip Lasley (St. Petersburg), Martin Huttig (Greenville, S.C.), Jason Trieloff (Clearwater), Tom Fitzgerald (Treasure Island) and Aaron Novak (Neptune Beach).

"So many police officers are out there for us every day, and it's amazing what they do," Lasley said. "When people hear of what we're running for they're 100 percent supportive of what we're doing. We're out there just having fun. We're knuckleheads for a purpose."

Times wires
Sunday, May 1, 2011

SOCCER

ARSENAL SLOWS MAN U TITLE MARCH

LONDON — Arsenal threw open the English title race Sunday with a 1-0 victory over visiting Manchester United that left the Premier League leader three points ahead of defending champion Chelsea ahead of their meeting next week.

Aaron Ramsey scored in the 56th minute at Emirates Stadium for third-place Arsenal.

Manchester United, owned by Bucs owner Malcolm Glazer, has 73 points and Chelsea 70, and both have the same goal differential (plus-38), which is the first tiebreaker, so Chelsea can take the lead Sunday with a win at Man U.

MLS: U.S. national team star Landon Donovan scored in the 51st minute as visiting Los Angeles tied Houston 1-1.

horses

New jockey in Derby for Watch Me Go

Rafael Bejarano, the nation's third leading money winner this year, got the riding assignment for Tampa Bay Derby winner Watch Me Go in Saturday's Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. He replaces Luis Garcia. Trainer Kathleen O'Connell cancelled a Sunday workout for Watch Me Go because of inclement weather. He is expected to work today.

MO-MENTUM: Uncle Mo worked 5 furlongs at muddy Churchill and owner Mike Repole said his horse, coming off of a gastrointestinal infection, will be ready for the Derby.

TENNIS

Djokovic winner in front of compatriots

Novak Djokovic defeated Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 to win the Serbia Open in his home country. "You people make it worth it to come back to this city and play and hope for the victories," said Djokovic, who led Serbia to its first Davis Cup title last year.

MADRID OPEN: World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki routed Ayumi Morita 6-2, 6-3 and Maria Sharapova rallied to top Arantxa Rus 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the first round on clay.

ESTORIL OPEN: Juan Martin del Potro beat Fernando Verdasco 6-2, 6-2 in the claycourt final in Oeiras, Portugal.

BMW OPEN: Nikolay Davydenko won his second title in Munich, beating Florian Mayer 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in the final.

ET CETERA

HOCKEY: Carolina rookie Jeff Skinner scored twice in Canada's 9-1 rout over France at the world championships in Slovakia. Canada clinched a spot in the second round, as did Germany and Switzerland with victories. Islanders defenseman Radek Martinek (concussion) of the Czech Republic was ruled out of the event.

MOTORCYCLES: Motocross rider Jeff Kargola died after crashing during a 1,400-mile event the length of Mexico's Baja Peninsula. Details were not available.

VOLLEYBALL: Two-time Olympic beach champion Misty May-Treanor injured her left knee during a tournament in Sanya, China. She and teammate Kerri Walsh withdrew. May-Treanor is scheduled to be checked out today by doctors in California.

OBITUARY: Former heavyweight boxer Henry Cooper, one of Britain's most popular sportsmen who was best known for knocking down Muhammad Ali — then Cassius Clay — died Sunday in Oxted, Surrey, England. He was 76. Cooper's left hook floored the up-and-coming contender in the fourth round of a 1963 non-title fight at Wembley Stadium. Cooper lost by TKO the next round, and also lost to Ali in 1966. "I am at a loss for words over the death of my friend, Henry Cooper," Ali said.

Times correspondent Don Jensen, Times wires

Times wires
Sunday, May 1, 2011

AVONDALE, La. — Bubba Watson has been working on becoming a better man.

He figures he's probably a better player because of it.

Watson overcame a three-stroke deficit over the final eight holes of regulation and beat Webb Simpson in a playoff Sunday at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for his second PGA Tour victory of the year and third of his career.

"My wife, my caddie and my trainer would say my attitude's in the right spot," said Watson, 32. "This week, I won (by) not getting down on bad shots, just staying focused on what I'm supposed to be doing."

Simpson took a one-stroke penalty on No. 15 when his ball moved as he was addressing it on the green, less than a foot from the hole.

"I better limit my comments on that rule, because I think it's such a bad rule," Simpson said. "When the wind or other natural things affect the golf ball, the player shouldn't be penalized. … But Bubba deserves a win, and I'm pretty happy for him."

Watson, who won at Torrey Pines in January, matched Simpson with 3-under 69 to finish at 15-under 273. Both birdied No. 18 on the first extra hole.

Watson opened the second playoff hole with a 329-yard drive that narrowly missed the water and landed in a bunker. He hit his second shot — a 7-iron — 210 yards to the green on the 568-yard, par-5 18th.

Simpson's second shot landed in a bunker short of the green, and he blasted out to 12 feet.

After Simpson missed his birdie putt, Watson made a 3-foot birdie putt for the victory, which earned him $1,152,000 and moved him up from No. 16 to No. 10 in the world.

Watson's mother, Molly, asked him to play in the event so she could drive from her Pensacola area home to watch him.

"I want to ask mom where else I should play," he said.

And his wife, Angie, has been telling him to work on his composure on the course.

"She told me that I'm playing golf for a living, it's a dream come true and … I've got to act differently," he said. "If I'm going to support kids and do charity work, (getting angry on the course) is not a good example."

LPGA: Maria Hjorth took advantage of Alexis Thompson's collapse in a failed bid to become the youngest tour winner, rallying at the Avnet LPGA Classic in Mobile, Ala., for her fifth tour title. Hjorth shot her second straight 5-under 67 to finish at 10-under 278, two ahead of Song-Hee Kim (71).

"I knew I just had to be patient," said Hjorth, 37, who earned $195,000 then donated $20,000 of her winnings to the American Red Cross tornado relief efforts in Alabama.

Thompson, 16, was tied for the lead entering the round but shot 78 to tie for 19th at 1 under.

"I just didn't hit it very solid," she said. " … I wasn't even that nervous surprisingly."

Tampa's Kristy McPherson (71) tied for 32nd at 1 over, and Seminole's Brittany Lincicome (75) tied for 37th at 2 over.

Westwood wins: Top-ranked Lee Westwood began the day three back but rallied for his second straight win, shooting 5-under 67 to beat Miguel Angel Jimenez (71) by a stroke at the Ballantine's Championship in Seoul, South Korea. Westwood, 38, the English star who won the Asian Tour's Indonesian Masters last week to regain the No. 1 ranking, finished at 12-under 276 in the event sanctioned by the European Tour and Asian Tour and Korea PGA.

Times staff
Sunday, May 1, 2011

.Fast facts

Late strikes

The Lightning has three nonempty-net goals in the final minute of periods, most in the league this postseason:

Date Opponent Scorer

Sunday CapitalsLecavalier

Friday Capitals Stamkos

April 15 Penguins St. Louis

Another victory

The Lightning has won five straight, its second-longest playoff winning streak:

Year No. Opponents

2004 8 Islanders (3) Canadiens (4) Flyers (1)

2011 5 Penguins (3) Capitals (2)

2003 4 Capitals (4)

By Joe Smith and Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writers
Sunday, May 1, 2011

Three stars

Vinny Lecavalier: The Lightning center had two goals, including the winner just more than six minutes into overtime.

Dwayne Roloson: The goaltender was a key reason Tampa Bay was even in the game. He had 35 saves and helped the Lightning kill off six power plays in the first two periods.

Teddy Purcell: The Lightning right wing picked up a pair of assists, made a great steal to help set up Marty St. Louis' goal, and added the primary assist on Lecavalier's winner in overtime.

Cover up

Before reporters on Sunday were allowed into the Lightning locker room at the Verizon Center, towels were hung over the writing boards on the wall so no detail of Tampa Bay's game plan would be revealed.

"Actually," coach Guy Boucher said, "it's because my drawings are not pretty. I wouldn't want anybody to get a hold of that."

Number of the day

5.29 Average shots, entering Sunday, in the postseason for Capitals LW Alex Ovechkin since 2008, most in the league

Tickets

Games 3, 4 and 6 at the St. Pete Times Forum are technically sold out. Potentially unused team tickets might be released at various times, so periodically check with Ticketmaster.

The series Lightning leads 2-0

Game 1, Lightning 4, Capitals 2: The line of Downie-Bergenheim-Moore comes up big again.

Game 2, Lightning 3, Capitals 2 (OT): Vinny Lecavalier's winner is his second goal of the game as Tampa Bay shakes off Ovechkin's OT-forcing goal with 1:07 left in regulation.

Tuesday: at Tampa Bay, 6:30, Sun Sports

Wednesday: at Tampa Bay, 7, Sun Sports

Saturday: at Washington, 12:30, Ch. 8 *

May 9: at Tampa Bay, TBD, TBD *

May 11: at Washington, TBD, TBD *

* If necessary

Radio: Games 3 and 4 on 970-AM; rest TBD

Quote to note

"We battled hard last series (against the Penguins), but you have to put that series behind you. We have a harder battle coming up right now. We know it's going to be a war out there. You're going into a war zone every time you step on the ice."

Lightning D Brett Clark

Hear the noise

Lightning C Nate Thompson said noise generated by the crowds watching playoff games can provide energy, even when the cheers are in opposing rinks and for the other team.

"I think when you have that kind of crowd, no matter where you are, it's pretty invigorating playing in the playoffs and playing in front of those fans who are going crazy and shouting, no mater what team they're rooting for," Thompson said. "It's pretty fun."

There is a caution, however.

"The biggest thing is having fun with it and not get too caught up with it," he said. "If you get too caught up with it you might not play your game and you won't play the way you can."

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, May 1, 2011

WASHINGTON — When you talk playoffs, Lightning coach Guy Boucher said, the formula is easy:

Your goaltender has to be your best player.

"For any team," Boucher said, "that's the way it has to be."

And that is the way it was Sunday night during Tampa Bay's 3-2 overtime victory over the Capitals in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

With the Lightning outplayed, outshot 37-23 and undermanned, Dwayne Roloson was the difference with 35 saves as the Lightning swept two games at the Verizon Center to take a two games to none lead with the series moving to Tampa for Games 3 and 4.

"By no means are we coming out of this game thinking we deserve the win," center Steven Stamkos said. "They outplayed us at times, and Roli made some big saves."

"He is," wing Marty St. Louis said, "the most important player on this team."

The Lightning, without injured left wing Simon Gagne and defenseman Pavel Kubina, stole the win when Vinny Lecavalier scored 6:19 into the extra period. Washington got caught on a line change, and Teddy Purcell's cross-ice pass found Lecavalier alone in front of the net.

It was Lecavalier's second goal of the game.

His power-play goal on a sizzling one-timer from the right faceoff circle gave Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead with 56.5 seconds left in the first period.

Marty St. Louis' goal made it 2-1 7:35 into the third period on a shot that banked in off Capitals defenseman Mike Green.

St. Louis' two points were his first in four games.

Purcell had two assists, and without behind-the-scenes spark plug plays by Ryan Malone and Randy Jones, Lecavalier's goals might not have happened.

The penalty kill also was perfect, going 6-for-6 and is now 45-for-46 in the playoffs.

And that brings us back to Roloson, who made 12 saves during penalty kills.

"The most important penalty killer," Boucher said, "is your goaltender."

"We've got to hand it to their goalie," Washington center Jason Arnott said. "He played extremely well."

Roloson, 41, leads the playoffs with six wins and a .947 save percentage and is second with a 1.80 goals-against average.

In seven games this season against the Capitals, including one when he was with the Islanders, Roloson is 4-2-1 with a 1.53 goals-against average, two shutouts and a .948 save percentage.

But Roloson did not want to hear it.

"What happens in the past is in the past," he said. "We have to focus on our next game. We got two lucky wins here. Hopefully, we can go home and try to push them back a little bit. They're too hard of a team to keep away. They generate a lot of offense and are hard to contain. They just kept coming at us."

Especially in the second period, when Washington had a 16-3 shot advantage and Tampa Bay tied a team playoff mark for fewest shots in a period.

Alex Ovechkin tied the score 2-2 with 1:07 left in the third period, but that was on a rebound after the Capitals pulled the goalie. And Roloson made five saves in overtime before Lecavalier's goal, his fourth of the playoffs.

"We got away with one," Boucher said. "We survived one. I don't think we can survive two more."

They might, if they stick to the formula.

Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@sptimes.com.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, May 1, 2011

WASHINGTON — Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis certainly deserve credit for the big goals they scored in the Lightning's 3-2 overtime win over the Capitals on Sunday night.

But if it weren't for three hustle — and heads-up — plays to help set them up, Tampa Bay might not be coming home up two games to none in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series.

There was Ryan Malone, sprawled on the ice behind the net on the power play, finding a way to get the puck to Lecavalier in the right circle before his power-play goal in the first period.

There was right wing Teddy Purcell stripping Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom of the puck in the Washington zone before passing to St. Louis for his third-period goal.

And there was defenseman Randy Jones, in his first game since March 7 due to a high ankle sprain, having the awareness to catch the Capitals on a bad line change and feeding a two-line pass to Purcell up the left boards to start the two-on-one with Lecavalier on the overtime winner.

Malone's assist wasn't pretty, but it was gritty. In his usual spot on the power play, in front, Malone said he didn't know if he slipped, or was tripped, but found himself face first on the ice behind the net. It appeared like he passed the puck from his glove to his stick and whipped it over to Lecavalier. Lecavalier had a give-and-go with St. Louis before ripping in a one-timer.

"Bugsy did that last game too on my goal," center Steven Stamkos said. "He's just not giving up under any circumstances."

Said coach Guy Boucher: "He's a warrior."

Purcell, who has seven assists in the playoffs, said he and St. Louis caught the Capitals on a long shift before the third-period goal. The Lightning had lost possession, but Purcell lifted Backstrom's stick in the left circle, stealing the puck, retrieving it behind the net and passing it to St. Louis. St. Louis admitted he got a little lucky when his cross-crease pass to Lecavalier bounced in off Capitals defenseman Mike Green's skate but said it was a "great effort by Teddy to hunt the puck down."

"I had body position on (Backstrom), he couldn't really do much unless he took a penalty," Purcell said. "And I just got the puck back and gave it out front."

Jones logged just 5 minutes, 27 seconds of ice time in his first action of the playoffs, filling in for injured defenseman Pavel Kubina (upper body). But Jones picked up a big assist when, after going to his own blue line to retrieve the puck, he took a quick glance back and noticed Washington on a line change. Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau said not only was it a bad change, the "guys that were coming out didn't come on anywhere near as quick as they should have."

"I didn't see too many (defensemen), and I saw Teddy cutting across the blue line," Jones said. "One thing we work on is get the puck and get it up quickly, and that's what I was trying to do."

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@sptimes.com.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, May 1, 2011

St. Petersburg Times staff writer Tom Jones looks back at the best and worst from a weekend of televised sports.

Worst voting

This is going to come off as a little hometown whining, but how in the world is the Lightning's Guy Boucher not one of the three finalists for NHL coach of the year? The three finalists for the award are the Penguins' Dan Bylsma, the Canucks' Alain Vigneault and the Predators' Barry Trotz.

First, let's look at Boucher. He took over a team that has been near the cellar of the league the past three seasons. He had no dependable goaltending for half the season. His team suffered an injury bug that took top players Vinny Lecavalier, Simon Gagne and Steve Downie for good chunks of the season. And yet the Lightning finished with 103 points, the second most in franchise history and good enough for fifth in the highly competitive Eastern Conference.

It's hard to argue with Bylsma being on the list. He directed the Penguins to a four seed despite missing two of the best players in the NHL for half the season: Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. In fact, Bylsma deserves to win the award.

But Vigneault? Sure, the Canucks had the best record in hockey, but was anyone surprised by that? They've finished with 100 or more points in three of the past four years. Vigneault has the reigning MVP, Daniel Sedin, who is a finalist for the award again this season. He also has a Vezina Trophy (best goalie) finalist in Roberto Luongo and a finalist for best defensive forward in Ryan Kessler.

Meanwhile, Trotz was a finalist last year when his team had 100 points. This season, they had a better team and a finalist for the Vezina (Pekka Rinne), and they finished with one fewer point than a season ago.

Look, Vigneault and Trotz are outstanding coaches. It's just hard to imagine, however, they did a better job than Boucher did in 2010-11.

Worst sense of direction

For the second time in three weeks, Fox baseball Game of the Week host Chris Rose showed how unfamiliar he is with Rays baseball by saying not once, not twice, but three times during Saturday's opening that the Rays play in "Tampa."

No big deal, you might say. But this is a team that has won two division titles in the past three years, and anyone who knows even a little about baseball knows the team plays in St. Petersburg. Rose just comes off as ignorant when he keeps repeating that the Rays play in Tampa. And you would think one of the Fox production people would notice, too, and set him straight.

Best moment

Hands down, the best moment of ESPN's draft coverage was watching Alabama running back Mark Ingram, top, overwhelmed with emotion after reporter Suzy Kolber read him an e-mail she received from Ingram's father, Mark Sr. The elder Ingram, a former NFL player himself, is serving a seven-year jail sentence for money laundering and bank fraud and wrote the e-mail to tell his son how proud he was. Kolber's instincts were brilliant. She gave Ingram a moment and filled time while he broke down, but stayed with it until Ingram tearfully responded.

"I want to tell my dad that I love him, and I miss you, dog," Ingram said. "You've been a positive influence my whole entire life. I just want to thank you and let you know that I love you, and we did it!"

It was heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time, and Kolber was sensational.

Worst moments

One of the best things about the NFL draft is watching commissioner Roger Goodell at the podium announcing the next pick. But the mystery and drama have been eliminated in recent years because ESPN often reveals the player about to be picked just before it becomes official. You can't blame ESPN. It's the network's job to break news. Still, it does take some fun out of it.

Best mockers

We can now safely say that, in the end, mock drafts are pretty much a waste of time. ESPN's Mel Kiper is about as good as they get, and you know how many of the 32 first-round picks he got right? Nine. ESPN's Todd McShay got eight right. And Sports Illustrated's Peter King, who is about as plugged into the NFL as any reporter on the planet, got only seven right. Meanwhile, Rich Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News might be the new draft king. Year in and year out, Gosselin's mock drafts are among the best in the country, and this year he got 14 right. When you think about it, that's pretty impressive, especially because he nailed several of the surprising picks: Jake Locker to the Titans at No. 8, Nick Fairley to the Lions at No. 13 and Anthony Costanzo to the Colts at No. 22.

Best interview

Most weeks, Fox's baseball Game of the Week interviews the managers briefly between innings and then airs the quick two or three questions and answers when coming out of commercial break. But Fox mixed it up Saturday and interviewed Rays pitcher David Price while Price wore a headset from the dugout. Great idea. Because Price wasn't pitching, he was able to talk during the action with no time constraints. Announcers Josh Lewin and Eric Karros didn't have great questions, but Price's answers were thoughtful, insightful and, occasionally, funny, making the interview one of the highlights of Saturday's broadcasts. Also, nice work by Fox to show several revealing and scary replays of Rays leftfielder Sam Fuld getting hit near his left eye while attempting to bunt a pitch.

Best criticism

A favorite broadcast moment of the weekend came when NBC hockey analyst Pierre McGuire, left, lambasted the Flyers coaching staff Saturday. Coming out of a timeout, the Flyers were burned when their fourth line gave up a goal to fall behind the Bruins 4-1. McGuire was incredulous.

"I can't believe coming out of a TV timeout, it's the fourth line of the Flyers against the first line of the Bruins," McGuire said. "That can't happen!"

And you have to admire the job done by McGuire from his station between the benches. He has built up so much respect in the league that players will talk to him during the game. Perfect example: During Sunday night's Lightning-Capitals game on Versus, he was able to ask Caps star Alex Ovechkin about missing a shift, and Ovechkin told him it was an issue with his skate and he was ready to return. Not too many analysts out there would be able to get a player to respond to a question during the game.

Also, because of McGuire, viewers were able to learn that the Lightning's Marty St. Louis suffered an injury to his mouth during the first period. We would have never known that if McGuire wasn't between the benches and paying attention.

Three things that popped into my head

1 Everyone knows what Lightning coach Guy Boucher is doing by pumping up the Caps every chance he gets, but it's still fun to listen to. (And P.S., Boucher just happens to be right in saying the Caps are supposed to win this series.)

2 The NBA playoffs not only haven't been dramatic, they've been downright boring.

3 How refreshing to listen to Versus' Jeremy Roenick tear into the inconsistent and shoddy officiating in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

By John Romano, Times Sports Columnist
Sunday, May 1, 2011

WASHINGTON

He has been a prodigy. A skinny 18-year-old with the skills of a maestro.

He has been a disappointment. A petulant 21-year-old with a lack of perspective.

He has been a superstar. A smiling 26-year-old on top of the hockey world.

And now? What would you call Vinny Lecavalier today?

How about Tampa Bay's savior.

Again.

He is 31 and no longer the goal scorer he was as a younger man. His body has been dinged and dented and, at times, his ego has been forced to take a holiday.

Steven Stamkos has become the face of the Lightning, and Marty St. Louis continues to rack up points at a rare pace.

Lecavalier? He is the older gent. A 50-goal scorer who has become the most expensive defensive forward in the game. He is a captain, a leader, an example to follow.

And in overtime of Game 2 against the Capitals on Sunday night, he was a star once more. Lecavalier gave the Lightning a two-game lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals with a streaking, artful goal six minutes into overtime for a 3-2 victory.

The Capitals were in the middle of a line change when Randy Jones chased down a puck in the Lightning defensive zone and sent a long bounce pass to Teddy Purcell, who found Lecavalier coming off the bench and charging toward the net.

Going full speed at Michal Neuvirth, Lecavalier stopped the puck then lifted it gently over the goaltender's glove for the winner.

"Honestly, that move he pulled for that goal? That was just sick," Lightning coach Guy Boucher said. "I had to look at the replay afterward. I thought he just batted it, and it went in. No. He's going full speed, all the momentum in the world, he's barely making it there, and he stops it and pulls it back.

"That's just crazy. Honestly, it takes a special person to be able to do that."

What's even more crazy is sometimes we forget this is the magic Lecavalier is capable of creating. Perhaps because we have watched him for so long, we have become guilty of taking him for granted. That includes his work on the ice, and off.

Few athletes have ever embraced Tampa Bay with quite the fervor that Lecavalier has. And few have ever been as generous with their money or time as Lecavalier has when it comes to pediatric cancer causes.

The problem is the years dull our memories. We forget that Lecavalier has battled shoulder injuries. We forget that the previous management team played with his head.

He certainly does not score with as much regularity, but in some ways he has become a far better player.

"The organization and the coach support the way he is playing and appreciate the way he's playing, and I think he understands that," general manager Steve Yzerman said. "Our team captain has bought into this, and all of the other guys have bought in. You don't have to lead the league in scoring to be the best player."

In the years after winning the Stanley Cup, Lecavalier was at the peak of his goal-scoring ability. He averaged 42 goals in a three-year span and was becoming a staple in the All-Star Game.

The next three seasons were a letdown for Lecavalier and the Lightning. The team was missing the playoffs, Lecavalier was missing time with injuries, and his goal-scoring average was down to 26 per season.

And while it might be generous for a coach and a GM to say an athlete is more valuable than ever because he is a more complete player, it still must be difficult for a competitor to accept that his name is no longer at the top of the charts.

"They've been tough years, I'm not going to lie," Lecavalier said in a hallway outside the locker room Sunday night. "The last three years there have been a lot of trade rumors, a lot of uncertainty with the team, I wasn't sure how everything was going to turn out.

"But last summer, I sat down with Steve Yzerman and he told me, 'You're going to be part of this team, and I want you to help me out with your leadership.' That really helped. All I've ever wanted was this team to do well."

The overtime goal was not Lecavalier's first moment of the night. He teamed up with St. Louis to put the Lightning ahead in the first period with a wicked one-timer to the left of the net on a power play.

And the guy who had 25 goals in the regular season now has four in the first nine games of the postseason.

And the guy who helped sink Washington in 2003 for Tampa Bay's first-ever playoff series victory is back again in 2011.

"When you're 23, and you have a Dave Andreychuk and a Tim Taylor and a Darryl Sydor, and you've got guys who have been through it, you look at them to see how you're supposed to act," Lecavalier said. "Now, I'm that old guy.

"I don't feel old in my head, but I have been through it, so I try to lead as best I can."

Prodigy. Hard head. Star.

Lecavalier has done it all.

And what does that make him today?

A great hockey player.

Still.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, May 2, 2011

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria said he will be "close to 100 percent" physically when he returns to the Rays as scheduled on Tuesday.

Longoria, speaking on a conference call, said he has felt increasingly comfortable during his rehab assignment at Double-A Montgomery, where he will play his fourth and final game tonight. He has been out since April 2 with a strained left oblique.

He said he expects to be about 85 percent comfortable facing big-league pitching on Tuesday but that it should only take him a couple games to feel fully comfortable.

And because the Rays have played so well in his absence, he said there won't be much pressure on him to have to carry the team.

"It definitely makes it a lot easier to come back into a lineup where everybody has been hitting for the most part and they've been putting runs on the board,'' he said.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, May 2, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — The four weeks the Rays played without All-Star third baseman Evan Longoria actually turned out okay as they went 15-11 and righted their season in his absence.

And they ended up being not so bad for Longoria for pretty much the same reason.

"If I had to sit there for 3½ weeks and watch our team struggle and go through adversity and kind of experience a real low, it would have been tough for me to sit around and just watch it," Longoria said.

"But it's been fun day in and day out to watch these guys and the way they're going about it. I really had no doubts Joe (Maddon) was going to get it together and put the right guys on the field, and the guys that were out there were going to contribute in their own way."

As the Rays welcome Longoria back tonight with open arms and a spot (though not necessarily the No. 3 spot) in the middle of their lineup, there will be two slight concerns:

That the Rays players don't take too big of a sigh of relief and let down.

And that Longoria, in an effort to make up for lost time, doesn't try to do too much.

The Rays didn't really replace Longoria — not with fill-ins Felipe Lopez, Sean Rodriguez and Dan Johnson combining to hit .198 with three homers and 11 RBIs — as much as they made up for his absence with a team effort and grind-it-out approach.

"It's definitely a positive we're getting back one of the best players in the game," DH Johnny Damon said. "The biggest thing we need to avoid is having a let-up with how we're playing and start counting on him to do what he always does."

Maddon acknowledged the legitimacy of the question but swatted away any concern.

"I don't think these guys are going to do that," he said. "I believe there is something to that, (but) I don't believe that our guys will go there. I believe we'll continue along the same path."

Given the emergence of Sam Fuld and Matt Joyce and the resurgence of Damon and Ben Zobrist, Maddon's hope is that they keep doing what they have been and Longoria is an addition.

"The whole group has really found their collective confidence this past month," Maddon said. "So you'd like to believe by sticking Longo in their somewhere, obviously it should make the group even better."

Longoria, speaking on a conference call Monday, admitted that his natural inclination is to "feel like I've got a lot of ground to make up" statistically. But because the team has played so well without him — standing two games over .500 and just 2½ behind the first-place Yankees — he won't feel a burden to produce.

"As a team we don't have anything to make up at this point, which is huge," Longoria said. "We just need to keep playing well and putting wins on the board. So that in itself is going to make things a lot easier for me, not having to press myself into trying to do something that I'm not capable of doing right now."

Longoria, who strained his left oblique in the season's second game April 2, said he should be "close to 100 percent" physically tonight and about 85 percent comfortable facing big-league pitching, needing just a couple of games to get re-acclimated.

He was 3-for-11 with two homers (and a walk) in the first three games of his rehab assignment at Double-A Montgomery, with the fourth and final one Monday night, and said the biggest issue was overcoming the hesitancy to take a full swing at the plate.

"That was part of the reason why Joe and everyone talked about getting me at least 12-15 at-bats, to kind of let that pass," Longoria said. "I just needed more swings to get back into feeling that I could swing as hard as I wanted to and let it rip and I wasn't going to feel it."

He will make one concession, reluctantly cutting back on his pregame work, at least on some days.

Given how dire things looked for the Rays after Longoria got hurt — given their 0-6 and 1-8 start, Manny Ramirez's "retirement" then Damon's finger injury — the thought that they'd be above .500 upon his return seemed fleeting at best.

"I would have felt like I'd won the Lotto at that point," he said.

Marc Topkin can be reached at topkin@sptimes.com.